Group B Streptococcus In Samples Research Articles

Serotype distribution and antibiotic resistance of Streptococcus agalactiae isolated from patients in Hue Central Hospital

Group B streptococcus (GBS) infections are still the leading cause of invasive infections in neonates, specically they also seriously cause mortality and morbidity with underlying diseases in adults. Curently, there are ten GBS serotypes (Ia, Ib, and II-IX) and the resistance characteristic of GBS is important to clinical treatment. Objectives and methods: 30 clinical isolates of GBS were obtained from patients in Hue Central Hospital, Vietnam, from January 2016 until Jun 2019. Then the isolated GBS was conducted antimicrobial susceptibility test to determine the antibiotic resistance and serotypes by a multiplex PCR method. Results: GBS strains were resistant to tetracycline (100%), azithromycin (82.6%), erythromycin (80%) and clindamycin (80%). Resistance rates were lower with levofloxacin (45%), chloramphenicol (52.6%) and ceftriaxone (6.7%) whereas resistance was not observed in ampicillin, vancomycin and penicillin G. The distribution rate of serotype V (66.67%) was higher than type I (33.33%). Conclusions: Antibiotic resistance characteristics of GBS in samples are mostly familiar with other studies: β -lactams and vancomycin were the most susceptible antibiotics to GBS, the resistance rate in second line drug like clindamycin and erythromycin were high but there were large differences between studies. This study determined two GBS serotypes of Ia and V among isolated strains. Key words: Streptococcus agalactiae, GBS, antibiotic resistance, serotype.

Comparison of Culture and PCR Methods for Diagnosis of Group B <i>Streptococcus</i> in Women

Group B Streptococcus (GBS), as a risk factor for newborns, is one of the most important causes of meningitis and septicaemia in newborns, intrauterine infections in women and colonization in the vaginal region in late gestation. We evaluate GBS prevalence and infection among pregnant women through culture and PCR methods, and then compare these methods. To this end, vaginal and urine swabs were separately collected from 246 women at the Women’s Hospital of Sari, Iran. Next, the samples were enriched in selective culture media Todd–Hewitt broth for 24 h at 37°C, recognized using blood agar media, and finally were amplified STREP gene by PCR technique. The indicated that the frequency of GBS in samples collected from urine and vaginal cultures and PCR method was positive. In addition, no significant relationship was found among the positive results of culture, maternal age, gestational age, a history of abortion and infection. With regard to the cultivation method as a standard technique, the sensitivity of PCR test was 100% and specificity was 96%. Moreover, it was found that the colonization rate of GBS in women was significant in Sari. Therefore, PCR is recommended as a reliable and rapid method for detection of GBS.