Hl. Bland et al., Antibiotic resistance patterns of group B streptococci in late third-trimester rectovaginal cultures, AM J OBST G, 184(6), 2001, pp. 1125-1126
OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the antibiotic sensitivity patterns
of rectovaginal group B streptococcal isolates obtained from a heterogeneo
us obstetric population in the late third trimester.
STUDY DESIGN: We performed a prospective observational study of rectovagina
l group B streptococcal isolates obtained in the late third trimester durin
g routine screening over a 12-month period. All cultures were prepared in a
selective broth medium for 18 to 24 hours before plating onto sheep blood
agar. Susceptibility testing of all isolates was performed for ampicillin,
cefazolin, clindamycin, erythromycin, penicillin G, and vancomycin with the
E-test method.
RESULTS: A total of 2111 consecutive rectovaginal cultures were performed i
n which group B streptococci were isolated from 574 (27.2%) different patie
nts. The "antibiogram" of the susceptible percentage is as follows: vancomy
cin, 100%; ampicillin, 98.2%; penicillin G, 98.2%; cefazolin, 98.1%; clinda
mycin, 92%; erythromycin, 81%. Ten isolates (1.8%) demonstrated intermediat
e susceptibility to both ampicillin and penicillin G.
CONCLUSION: Routine susceptibility testing of group B streptoccal isolates
collected during pregnancy should be considered because of the emergence of
antibiotic resistance among group B streptococcal strains.