Group B streptococcal disease: its diagnosis with the use of antigen detection, Gram's stain, and the presence of apnea, hypotension
D. L. Ingram, E. L. Pendergrass, P. I. Bromberger, J. D. Thullen, C. D. Yoder and A. M. Collier
Antigen detection was found to be a rapid and useful technique in
diagnosing group B streptococcal (GBS) infections. Of the two techniques
described, latex agglutination was more sensitive than countercurrent
immunoelectrophoresis. Concentrated urine was the best body fluid to test
with 100% containing antigen. Though no false-positive reactions were
noted, this is a potential problem. Gram-positive cocci in the gastric
aspirate were associated with severe systemic infections with these
organisms in almost half of the neonates with clinical signs of infection
or respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). There was only a 4% infection rate
in clinically similar neonates without Gram-positive cocci in the gastric
aspirates. Apnea and/or hypotension was seen commonly in both early onset
GBS pneumonia and RDS, making this finding alone of little clinical use.
