Evaluation of Culture and PCR Methods for Diagnosis of Group B Streptococcus Carriage in Iranian Pregnant Women

BACKGROUND: Group B streptococcus (GBS) is one of the most important cause of morbidity and mortality among newborns especially in developing countries. It has been shown that the screening approach rather than the identification of maternal clinical risk factors for early-onset neonatal GBS disease is more effective in preventing early-onset GBS neonatal disease. The objective of this study was to detect GBS among clinical samples of women using PCR and standard microbiological culture. METHODS: Samples were taken from 375 women at 28–38 weeks of gestation during six month from January 15 till June 15, 2011 from a hospital in Tehran, Iran. Samples were tested by standard culture using Todd–Hewitt broth, blood agar and by PCR targeting the cfb gene. RESULTS: Among the 375 women, 35 (9.3%) were identified as carriers of group B streptococci on the basis of the results of the cultures of specimens, compared to 42 (11.2 %) on the basis of PCR assay. CONCLUSION: We found that GBS can be detected rapidly and reliably by a PCR assay in vaginal secretions from women at the time of delivery. This study also showed that the rate of incidence of GBS is high in Iranian women.