title: Highly Sensitive and Efficient Screening of Streptococcus Agalactiae Through Improved Real-Time PCR Protocols and Optimized Analytical Parameters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The detection of Streptococcus agalactiae colonization during pregnancy is important in order to prevent neonatal infections and reduce mortality rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  A highly sensitive (up to 1,000 UFC/mL), fully automated, and cost effective cylB specific real-time PCR protocol was developed for the detection of S. agalactiae in anal and vaginal swabs of pregnant women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the 62 test subjects, 24 were considered positive by PCR (38%) and 14 by culture (24%; p = 0.0015).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The observed discrepancies and the reduced turnaround time justifies molecular screening for S. agalactiae.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Fabião
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Marco
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Proto-Siqueira
mesh_terms: D001003:Anal Canal / Q000382:microbiology; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers