Abstract:
Objective: To determine maternal vaginal colonization with Group B Streptococcus using both recto-vaginal swab and midstream
urine in order to determine which specimen type can give better results.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi Pakistan, Department of Gynecology and
Obstetrics, Combined Military Hospital and Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jan to Jun 2022.
Metliodology: Recto-vaginal swabs and mid-stream urine were taken from 194 pregnant women between 36th and 37th weeks
of pregnancy. Swabs were inoculated on blood and MacConkey agar while urine specimen was inoculated on blood and
CLED agar. All plates were incubated at 37°C in either ambient air or CO: incubator. Identification of Group B Streptococas
was made on the basis of colony morphology (B-haemolytic colonies on blood agar) Gram stain, catalase test and
confirmation were done by means of latex agglutination tests.
Results: In comparison to urine, a Group B Streptococcus carriage tate of 8.2% was detected in recto-vaginal swab. Urine
specimen of only 3 patients yielded growth of Group B Streptococcus giving a urine carriage rate of 1.5%.
Conclusion: Recto-vaginal swab gives a better insight to the presence of Group B Stiptococcus as compared to mid-stream
urine.
