title: Does genital tract GBS colonization affect the latency period in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes not in labor prior to 34 weeks?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if genital tract colonization with GBS at the time of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) affects the latency period.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study was performed of all gravidas admitted with PPROM between 23 and 34 weeks of gestation from 1 January 2003 to 29 February 2012. Vaginal/rectal specimens for GBS were performed on admission. The latency period and infectious complications were evaluated in GBS-positive and GBS-negative groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hundred and eighty-nine women were identified with PPROM, 177 meet the inclusion criteria. 60 patients were GBS positive on admission, 117 were GBS negative. Median latency period in GBS-positive and GBS-negative groups did not differ (6.8 versus 7.3 days, p = 0.384). Risk of intra-amniotic, wound infection, maternal and neonatal sepsis, and composite infectious morbidity did not differ between the GBS-positive and GBS-negative groups. Among patients who underwent cesarean delivery, GBS-negative group had a higher risk of endomyometritis (25%) compared to the GBS-positive group (6%), p = 0.05.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GBS genital tract colonization on admission does not appear to affect the latency period or increase the risk of intra-amniotic infection in patients with PPROM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, UMDNJ - New Jersey Medical School , Newark, NJ , USA.
authors.forename: Dimitry
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zilberman
authors.forename: Shauna F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Reah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kurian
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Apuzzio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000382:microbiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology