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Original Article
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Korean J Obstet Gynecol. 1999;42(9):2038-2042. Published online January 1, 2001.
- A Study of Group B Streptococcal Infection in Korean Pregnant Women.
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Lee Suk Park, Kyung Seo, Sei Kwang Kim, Yong Won Park, Hyun Yong Jung, Yun Sop Chong, Kyung Won Lee
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- Abstract
- OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the degree of streptococcal colonization in Korean pregnant women. METHODS: The study comprised of 153 singleton pregnant women who visited Severance Hospital for delivery, and their neonates. Specimens for GBS culture were collected by a sterile cotton swab from lower vagina and cervix of pregnant women, and from ear canal and throat of neonates. They were first cultured for 48 hours in Todd-Hewitt broth and then subcultured onto Tryptose blood agar plates(Difco). Group B streptococci were confirmed by the presence of beta-hemolysis and a positive reaction with Phadebact group B Streptococci reagent(Karo Biodiagnostics AB, Huddinge, Sweden). RESULTS: The prevalence of positive cultures in pregnant women and neonates were 2.61%(4/153) and 0%(0/4), respectively. In the study population there was a case of suspicious group B streptococcual sepsis in an infant whose mother was colonized. CONCLUSIONS: In our study the GBS colonization rate in Korean pregnant women was significantly lower than that of other countries. The reason for this difference may be associated with a racial differences, or social factors such as socio-economic status or a life style.
Keywords :Group B Streptococcus(GBS);pregnancy;colonization;B
