agar and Infant--Newborn--Diseases

The purpose of the study presented here was to confirm the high yield of group B streptococci (GBS) on Granada medium for the detection of pregnant GBS carriers and to compare the results with those obtained using standard Columbia blood agar at two participating centers in Belgium. Culture results of the vaginorectal swabs obtained at the two centers were also compared. A total of 1,142 samples (838 in Leuven and 304 in Bonheiden) obtained from consecutive pregnant women were cultured onto both media. Of all GBS carriers 84.7% were detected on Columbia blood agar and 93.4% on Granada agar ( P<0.01, McNemar test). The addition of Granada agar was responsible for a 15% higher rate of detection of GBS carriers. As a result of this study, both participating hospitals will use a combination of Granada agar with Columbia blood agar for optimal GBS screening in the future.

Topics: Adult; Agar; Bacteriological Techniques; Belgium; Carrier State; Culture Media; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Mass Screening; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Prenatal Care; Sensitivity and Specificity; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus agalactiae

Primary cultures of clinical material were screened for the presence of colonies suspected of being Streptococcus agalactiae (Lancefield group B). Sixty-three such cultures and 108 other isolates of beta-hemolytic streptococci (groups A, C, and G), encountered during the first 3 months of the investigation, were studied by Lancefield grouping, sodium hippurate hydrolysis, and a standardized CAMP test. All streptococci were inoculated perpendicularly to streaks of a beta-toxin-producing staphylococcus on sheep blood agar plates and incubated aerobically in a candle jar and anaerobically at 37 C. Plates were examined after 5 to 6 and 18 h of incubation. The production of a distinct "arrowhead" of hemolysis was indicative of a positive CAMP reaction. All group B streptococci produced a positive CAMP reaction in the candle jar or anaerobically, usually within 5 to 6 h, and aerobically after 18 h of incubation. All group A streptococci produced a positive reaction only under anaerobic conditions. Groups C and G streptococci were negative under all atmospheres. The CAMP reaction is a prompt and reliable procedure for the presumptive identification of group B streptococci when a candle jar atmosphere is used during incubation.

Topics: Aerobiosis; Agar; Anaerobiosis; Animals; Bacteriological Techniques; Blood; Classification; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Hemolysis; Hippurates; Humans; Hydrolysis; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Sheep; Staphylococcus; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus agalactiae; Toxins, Biological

Topics: Agar; Bilirubin; Humans; Hyperbilirubinemia; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases

Topics: Acidosis; Agar; Anemia, Hemolytic; Antibodies; Bilirubin; Blood Group Incompatibility; Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine; Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood; Female; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency; Humans; Hyperbilirubinemia; Hypoglycemia; Hypoxia; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Phenobarbital; Pregnancy; Protein Binding; Pyruvate Kinase; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; Serum Albumin

Topics: Agar; Enzyme Induction; Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood; Humans; Hyperbilirubinemia; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Meconium; Phenobarbital; Phototherapy

Topics: Agar; Anemia, Sickle Cell; Blood; Blood Protein Electrophoresis; Hemoglobins, Abnormal; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Umbilical Cord

Agar gel, cellulose acetate, and starch gel electrophoresis are all capable of diagnosing sickle-cell anaemia, sickle-cell haemoglobin C disease, and haemoglobin C disease in cord blood samples. Of these three electrophoretic techniques, agar gel is the easiest to interpret.Paper electrophoresis can reliably and rapidly detect sickle haemoglobin and haemoglobin C in cord blood samples. Being incapable of differentiating foetal and normal adult haemoglobin, the value of paper electrophoresis is limited to an initial screening procedure.

Topics: Agar; Anemia, Sickle Cell; Blood Protein Electrophoresis; Cellulose; Fetal Hemoglobin; Gels; Hemoglobin C; Hemoglobin C Disease; Hemoglobinopathies; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Paper; Starch; Umbilical Cord