Antibiotic resistance patterns of group B streptococcus in antenatal genital cultures.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of group B streptococcus (GBS) isolated from antenatal genital screening cultures.


METHODS
One hundred thirty-five sequential GBS isolates underwent susceptibility testing by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion to a variety of commonly used antibiotics.


RESULTS
All isolates were susceptible to cefazolin, chloramphenicol and vancomycin. Resistance to clindamycin and erythromycin, the currently recommended alternative antibiotics for intrapartum GBS prophylaxis in penicillin-allergic women, was found in 8.2% and 9.6% of GBS isolates tested, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings raise concerns regarding the need for both confirmation of a history of penicillin allergy in pregnant women and performance of antibiotic susceptibility testing on GBS isolated in genital screening cultures from penicillin-allergic patients.
Silverman
N S
NS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, Suite 160 W, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA. silvermann@cshs.org
Morgan
M
M
Nichols
W S
WS
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002437:Cefazolin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000187:drug effects*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D014640:Vancomycin; D002437:Cefazolin