Comparison between cultures of urine sediment and of the vagina for detection of carriers of group B Streptococcus (GBS) among pregnant women

Abstract

An attempt was made to detect carriers of group B Streptococcus (GBS) among pregnant women by vaginal culture. Reported carrier rates have varied from 3% to 15% and one study has reported that cultures of urine sediment showed a very high positivity rate of 30% among non-pregnant women. In this study, we cultured urine sediment from 110 non-pregnant and 415 pregnant women. Among non-pregnant women, 26% were found to be GBS carriers by culture of urine sediment. Among pregnant women, the carrier rate was 3% by vaginal culture and 15% by culture of urine sediment. The serotypes of cases positive by vaginal vulture were identical with those positive by urine sediment culture. For detection of GBS carriers among pregnant women, culture of urine sediment is easy and reduces the rate of false negativity.