Focus on StrepB
The centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for the prevention of perinatal Group B Streptococcal (GBS) infections recommend that pregnant women be tested at 35 to 37 weeks of pregnancy or GBS carriage by selective enrichment broth of vaginal/anorectal swab samples, followed by subculture on blood agar or chromogenic plates.
Enterococci growth properties are very similar to the GBS. Enterococci are able to hinder the growth of GBS in traditional broths by competition. Thus, a source of false negative results still remains since the traditional broth enrichments (Todd-Hewitt, LIM) are not dedicated to the inhibition of Enterococci, which are actually part of the anorectal flora.
Despite the fact that CHROMagarTM StrepB helps differentiate Enterococci from GBS by producing colonies of a distinct colour the risk remains of high levels of Enterococci growth may obscure GBS colonies.
RambaQUICKTM StrepB is a selective enrichment additive designed to reduce the growth or Enterococci, while allowing growth of GBS.