The lectin of the tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum, or of the potato, Solanum tuberosum, can be passively coupled to amide-modified polystyrene spheres to be used as a detection reagent for the specific identification of group B streptococcal cultures grown in selective or nonselective Todd-Hewitt broth for 5 and 4 h, respectively. Agglutination occurred when the lectin reagents were allowed to ...

A total of 451 strains of gram-positive bacteria were identified with a prototype of the Gram-Positive Identification card used in conjunction with the AutoMicrobic system (Vitek Systems, Inc., Hazelwood, Mo.). Of the species that the Gram-Positive Identification card is capable of identifying, 85% of staphylococcal, 50% of beta-hemolytic group A, B, C, F, and G streptococcal, 91% of group D st...

OBJECTIVE To provide information regarding the management of group B streptococcal (GBS) bacteriuria to midwives, nurses, and physicians who are providing obstetrical care. OUTCOMES The outcomes considered were neonatal GBS disease, preterm birth, pyelonephritis, chorioamnionitis, and recurrence of GBS colonization. EVIDENCE Medline, PubMed, and the Cochrane database were searched for artic...

This study evaluated a PCR assay for detection of the streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B (speB) gene from tissue biopsy specimens of patients with necrotizing fasciitis. speB was detected in specimens from all 10 patients with necrotizing fasciitis due to group A streptococcus. The assay was negative for all 11 patients without culture or serologic evidence of streptococcal infection. These res...