Influence of diabetes on group B Streptococcus colonization in the pregnant patient

To compare the incidence of group B Streptococcus colonization in diabetic (n = 98) and nondiabetic (n = 10) patients, 199 pregnant women were cultured at the vaginal introitus using a standardised technique. Eight diabetic patients had positive findings for group B Streptococcus cultures, and three nondiabetic patients had positive cultures. No significant difference (P = .109) was found in the group B Streptococcus colonization rates between these two groups of patients. In addition, no significant difference was found in the group B Streptococcal colonization rates between gestational and pregestational diabetics (P = .498). A within-group comparison of diabetic patients revealed that ethnicity (Hispanics versus nonhispanics) did generate a significant difference in the rate of colonization (P = .033). The results of the present study suggest that there is no substantial evidence to consider diabetes mellitus as a higher risk criterion for group B Streptococcus screening. However, population differences and ethnicity should be noted as important contributing factors when considering the implementation of group B Streptococcus screening protocols for pregnant women.