Intrapartum test for detection of Group B Streptococcus colonization during labor

AbstractPurpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential improvement of introducing an intrapartum test for the detection of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) during labor and to estimate its cost-effectiveness versus antepartum GBS screening culture.Materials and methods: Three hundred and thirteen women at beginning of labor, with unknown GBS status or with antepartum GBS screening culture were enrolled. A vaginal–rectal specimen was collected from each woman for GBS detection by real-time PCR. Results of intrapartum test and antepartum GBS screening culture were compared.Results: Antepartum culture results did not always reflect the intrapartum maternal GBS colonization status since in 15.1% of the cases it was not concordant with intrapartum test. However, selecting only women, who underwent antepartum culture and intrapartum test at the same time, the percentage of concordance was 96.6%. Based on intrapartum test results, 74.9% of the total number of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP)...