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Group B Streptococcus detection in pregnant women: comparison of real-time PCR assay, culture, and the Xpert GBS rapid test
Amanda Vilaverde Perez
HCPA
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3150-6675
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.
Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is one of the most important causative agents of neonatal sepsis. As administration of prophylactic antibiotics during labor can prevent GBS infection, routine screening for this bacterium in prenatal care before the onset of labor is recommended. However, many women present in labor without having undergone such testing during antenatal care, and the turnaround time of detection methods is insufficient for results to be obtained before delivery. Methods: Vaginal and anorectal specimens were collected from 270 pregnant women. Each sample was tested by Xpert GBS, qPCR, and culture for GBS detection. Results: The overall prevalence of maternal GBS colonization was 30.7% according to Xpert GBS, 51.1% according to qPCR, and 14.3% according to cultures. Considering the qPCR method as the reference, the Xpert GBS had a sensitivity of 53% and specificity of 93%. Positive Xpert GBS results were correlated to marital status (married or cohabitating) and with prematurity as a cause of neonatal hospitalization. Positive cultures were related with ischemic–hypoxic encephalopathy requiring therapeutic hypothermia. Conclusions: Combined enrichment/qPCR and the Xpert GBS rapid test found a high prevalence of GBS colonization. The Xpert GBS technique gives faster results and could be useful for evaluating mothers who present without antenatal GBS screening results and are at risk of preterm labor, thus allowing institution of prophylactic antibiotic therapy. Keywords: Group B Streptococcus ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Xpert GBS; real-time polymerase chain reaction; antenatal care
Keywords
Group B Streptococcus; Streptococcus agalactiae; Xpert GBS; real-time polymerase chain reaction; antenatal care
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
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Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 09 Dec, 2019
Editor assigned
On 08 Dec, 2019
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On 07 Dec, 2019
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Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 03 Dec, 2019
Editor assigned
On 02 Dec, 2019
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On 01 Dec, 2019
Editor invited
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Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 13 Nov, 2019
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On 12 Nov, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 11 Nov, 2019
Editor invited
On 11 Nov, 2019
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Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 05 Nov, 2019
Editor assigned
On 15 Oct, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 14 Oct, 2019
Editor invited
On 14 Oct, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 04 Oct, 2019
Review #2 received
Received 16 Sep, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 10 Sep, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 14 Aug, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 06 Aug, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 25 Jul, 2019
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Submission checks complete
On 23 Jul, 2019
Editor invited
On 23 Jul, 2019
First submitted
On 16 Jul, 2019
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Subject Areas
Maternal & Fetal Medicine
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
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Research article
Group B Streptococcus detection in pregnant women: comparison of real-time PCR assay, culture, and the Xpert GBS rapid test
Amanda Vilaverde Perez
HCPA
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3150-6675
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
Version 6
Posted 19 Dec, 2019
Published
On 30 Dec, 2019
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Accept
On 13 Dec, 2019
Editor assigned
On 12 Dec, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 11 Dec, 2019
Editor invited
On 11 Dec, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 09 Dec, 2019
Editor assigned
On 08 Dec, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 07 Dec, 2019
Editor invited
On 07 Dec, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 03 Dec, 2019
Editor assigned
On 02 Dec, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 01 Dec, 2019
Editor invited
On 01 Dec, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 13 Nov, 2019
Editor assigned
On 12 Nov, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 11 Nov, 2019
Editor invited
On 11 Nov, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 05 Nov, 2019
Editor assigned
On 15 Oct, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 14 Oct, 2019
Editor invited
On 14 Oct, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 04 Oct, 2019
Review #2 received
Received 16 Sep, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 10 Sep, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 14 Aug, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 06 Aug, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 25 Jul, 2019
Editor assigned
On 23 Jul, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 23 Jul, 2019
Editor invited
On 23 Jul, 2019
First submitted
On 16 Jul, 2019
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Maternal & Fetal Medicine
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.
Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is one of the most important causative agents of neonatal sepsis. As administration of prophylactic antibiotics during labor can prevent GBS infection, routine screening for this bacterium in prenatal care before the onset of labor is recommended. However, many women present in labor without having undergone such testing during antenatal care, and the turnaround time of detection methods is insufficient for results to be obtained before delivery. Methods: Vaginal and anorectal specimens were collected from 270 pregnant women. Each sample was tested by Xpert GBS, qPCR, and culture for GBS detection. Results: The overall prevalence of maternal GBS colonization was 30.7% according to Xpert GBS, 51.1% according to qPCR, and 14.3% according to cultures. Considering the qPCR method as the reference, the Xpert GBS had a sensitivity of 53% and specificity of 93%. Positive Xpert GBS results were correlated to marital status (married or cohabitating) and with prematurity as a cause of neonatal hospitalization. Positive cultures were related with ischemic–hypoxic encephalopathy requiring therapeutic hypothermia. Conclusions: Combined enrichment/qPCR and the Xpert GBS rapid test found a high prevalence of GBS colonization. The Xpert GBS technique gives faster results and could be useful for evaluating mothers who present without antenatal GBS screening results and are at risk of preterm labor, thus allowing institution of prophylactic antibiotic therapy. Keywords: Group B Streptococcus ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Xpert GBS; real-time polymerase chain reaction; antenatal care
Figure 1