Self-collection of group B Streptococcus cultures in pregnant women

Abstract

Objective: This study assesses the sensitivity of self-collected rectovaginal culture specimens for group B Streptococcus by pregnant patients.

Methods: A volunteer sample of 240 pregnant women at 28 weeks gestation self-collected rectovaginal culture swabs to screen for the presence of group B Streptococcus. The patients' physicians collected second specimens for comparison.

Results: Twenty-four of 240 women grew group B Streptococcus on at least one culture (incidence, 10%). Twenty physician-collected specimens and 19 patient-collected specimens were positive (83 and 79% sensitivity, respectively). Fifteen patients (62.5%) had both physician-collected and patient-collected cultures grow group B Streptococcus. Cohen's kappa (kappa = 0.75) indicates a high degree of agreement between patient-collected and physician-collected cultures.

Conclusions: Pregnant women are as likely as their attending physicians to obtain positive cultures for group B Streptococcus by self-collection of rectovaginal swabs.