Group B streptococcal colonization in the diabetic gravida patient

Previous reports have suggested that pregnant diabetic patients have higher carriage rates of group B Streptococcus (GBS) than nondiabetic gravidas. In order to evaluate this in our population, we cultured the posterior pharynx, endocervix, vagina, and rectum of 101 diabetic pregnant women and 100 nondiabetic gravida patients. The colonization rate of GBS was higher in the diabetic population, 31.7%, than in the nondiabetic group 19.0%, (p < 0.039). The vagina was the site most often positive in both diabetic and nondiabetic populations (23.8% and 17.0%, respectively, p = NS). The second site to culture positive overall and the only individual site that was positive significantly more often in diabetics was the rectum (16.9% versus 7.0%, p < 0.05). Differences in colonization rates were not evident when insulin requirement and diabetic classes were considered.