Colonization of Nigerian neonates with group B streptococci and its rapid detection

The rate of colonization by group B streptococci among Nigerian neonates in Abeokuta was found to be 19% (38 of 200 newborns). The recently described serotype IV was the commonest (35.1%) among the strains isolated. Three methods for the rapid detection of heavy colonization by group B streptococci in neonates were compared: Gram stain of the pharyngeal aspirate collected immediately post-partum; direct application of latex agglutination to the first post-partum pharyngeal aspirate; and application of latex agglutination to selective Todd Hewitt broth, inoculated with pharyngeal aspirate and body swabs, after five hours of incubation. It seems that both latex agglutination methods can rapidly detect a considerable proportion of neonates heavily contaminated with group B streptococci intra-partum; therefore both methods deserve further evaluation.