Rapid Detection of Group B Streptococci in Pregnant Women at Delivery

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 343; no. 3; pp. 175 - 179
• Main Authors: Bergeron, Michel G, Ke, Danbing, Ménard, Christian, François, Francois J, Gagnon, Martin, Bernier, Marthe, Ouellette, Marc, Roy, Paul H, Marcoux, Sylvie, Fraser, William D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 20.07.2000
• Subjects: Anal Canal - microbiology; Bacterial diseases; Bacteriological Techniques; Biological and medical sciences; Colony Count, Microbial; Extraembryonic Membranes; Female; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Labor, Obstetric; Medical sciences; Obstetrics; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Predictive Value of Tests; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - diagnosis; Prospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Staphylococcal infections, streptococcal infections, pneumococcal infections; Streptococcal Infections - diagnosis; Streptococcus agalactiae; Streptococcus agalactiae - isolation & purification; Time Factors; Vagina - microbiology; Womens health; Human; Medical screening; Infection; Pregnancy; Polymerase chain reaction; Streptococcaceae; Streptococcal infection; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Female; Delivery; Technique; Molecular biology; Streptococcus agalactiae
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJM200007203430303

Group B streptococcus, or Streptococcus agalactiae, is a leading cause of sepsis, meningitis, and death among newborn infants in Western countries. Early-onset infections (those appearing within seven days after birth) with this organism account for approximately 80 percent of group B streptococcal infections in infants and are usually acquired by contact with the genital tract of the mother during labor and delivery. 1 In 1998, the incidence of disease caused by group B streptococci was 0.6 per 1000 live births, and there were about 2000 group B streptococcal infections among infants in the United States, approximately 100 of which were fatal. . . .