Racial disparities in intrapartum group B Streptococcus colonization: a higher incidence of conversion in African American women

Objectiveto compare the incidence of group b streptococcus (gbs) conversion from a negative antepartum to a positive intrapartum culture among women who self-identify as non-hispanic black, hispanic, or non-hispanic white.study designthis was a prospective cohort study of women with a negative rectovaginal gbs culture obtained within 35 days of enrollment. an intrapartum rectovaginal swab was collected and cultured for gbs. data were compared with chi-square, fisher’s exact, or wilcoxon rank-sum test. modified poisson regression was used.resultswe enrolled 737 women; 75.4% were non-hispanic white, 17.6% were non-hispanic black, and 6.9% were hispanic. non-hispanic black women were more likely to convert to gbs positive than non-hispanic white women, 9.2% as compared to 5.3% (rr: 2.0; 95% ci: 1.02–3.8).conclusionthe increased incidence of positive intrapartum gbs cultures among non-hispanic black women suggests that non-hispanic black race is a risk factor for gbs conversion in the late third trimester.