الفهرس 
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Abstract
group B streptococci (GBS) or Streptococcus agalactiae are members of the normal flora of the female genital tract. GBS normally colonizes the vagina in many women asymptomatically. During labor this organism may infect the newborn, leading to neonatal sepsis,
group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection has long been recognized as a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in newborn infants.
Purpose: The purpose of the current study was the detection of the colonization rate of GBS among pregnant women in labour who attended El-Shatby Maternity University Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt.
Materials and Methods: Two vagino-rectal swabs were collected from one-hundred pregnant women during labour. Collected swabs were immediately placed in a separate tube of Amie’s transport medium then were inoculated into selective enrichment Todd-Hewitt broth medium, and cultured on Islam medium, then examined using PCR assay.
Results: In present study, the mean age of the participants was 24.56 ± 5.52 years. GBS colonization rate based on the culture was 28% and 34% by using the PCR assay. The culture was negative and the PCR assay was positive for 6 women. There was no a significant association of age and gravidity with GBS colonization.
Conclusion: These results indicate that the PCR assay targeting the atr gene is an excellent test for GBS screening in pregnant women as it is a highly sensitive technique (100% sensitivity) compared to culture method(82.35% sensitivity). This PCR methodology may provide a diagnostic tool for GBS detection, potentially allowing more accurate and effective intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis and lower newborn mortality and morbidity.