A rapid screening test for the diagnosis of endocervical group B streptococci in pregnancy: microbiologic results and clinical outcome.
Four hundred thirty-one parturient women were tested for cervical infection with group B streptococcus using standard bacterial culture and a commercially available latex particle agglutination test. The total time required to perform each latex test was 30 minutes or less. The prevalence of endocervical group B streptococcus by culture was 4.4%, half of whom developed clinically significant group B streptococcus infection; all such cases were identified correctly by the latex test. The predictive value of a negative latex test for a negative group B streptococcus culture was 98%. This method seems promising as a rapid intrapartum diagnostic test for ruling out group B streptococcus infection and thus avoiding unnecessary antibiotic treatment.
Isada
N B
NB
Grossman
J H
JH
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013997:Time Factors; D002577:Uterine Cervical Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology