Vaginal gram stains as a simple test for the diagnosis of group B-Streptococci in patients with premature rupture of membranes

ABSTRACT

The most two common bacterial pathogens in the neonatal period are groub B-hemolytic streptococci [GBS] and Escherichia coli accounting for 70% of all systemic neonatal bacterial disease. More significant is the ascension of group B-hemolytic streptococci as a major cause of life threatening neonatal infection. The present work studied. The efficiency of vaginal Gram stain as a simple test for detection of [GBS] in patients with premature rupture of membranes 92 pregnant female attending for delivery with premature rupture of membranes. Two culture swabs were obtained from the outer one third of the vagina immediately on adminission. and also an air dried smear to prepare a Gram stain. 28 of 92 Cram stains were + re for Gram positive cocci giving an incidence of [30%] of these 9 cultures were subsequently positive for GBS and one for staphilo-cocci representing incidence of [32%]. No cultures were positive on Gram negative semears. The sensitivity of vaginal gram statin in this study was 100% so it can be used in patients with premature rupture of membranes for detection of GBS carriers as it is easy and simple