Self-collected versus health-care professional taken swab for identification of vaginal-rectal colonisation with group B streptococcus in late pregnancy: a systematic review

Odubamowo, Kenny; Garcia, Maria; Muriithi, Francis; Ogollah, Reuben; Daniels, Jane P.; Walker, Kate F.

Abstract

Background
Testing for group B streptococcus (GBS) requires a vaginal-rectal swab in late pregnancy.
Objective
A systematic review of the test accuracy of a self-collected swab compared with a health-care professional collected swab in the diagnosis of GBS colonisation.
Search strategy
The Cochrane Library (including the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects [DARE] and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials [CENTRAL]), EMBASE, MEDLINE and Trip were searched in May 2022.
Selection criteria
Randomised trials, test accuracy studies or diagnostic yield studies that compared the accuracy of a self-collected vaginal-rectal swab, compared to that taken by a health-care professional, for the detection of GBS colonisation in the third trimester.
Data collection and analysis
Two researchers independently screened, selected studies, extracted data and assessed study quality.
Main results
10 studies, with 2578 women were included. Pooled sensitivity of self-collected swabs was 0.90 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.81 to 0.95) and pooled specificity was 0.98 (95% CI 0.96 to 0.99).
Conclusion
This study provides reassuring evidence that self-collected swabs for maternal GBS colonisation are highly accurate relative to swabs collected by health-care professionals. Women requiring a swab for GBS colonisation can self-swab with appropriate instructions if they choose.

Citation

Odubamowo, K., Garcia, M., Muriithi, F., Ogollah, R., Daniels, J. P., & Walker, K. F. (2023). Self-collected versus health-care professional taken swab for identification of vaginal-rectal colonisation with group B streptococcus in late pregnancy: a systematic review. European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 286, 95-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2023.05.027

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 20, 2023
• Online Publication Date: May 22, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-07
• Deposit Date: Jun 8, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 8, 2023
• Journal: European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
• Print ISSN: 0301-2115
• Electronic ISSN: 1872-7654
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 286
• Pages: 95-101
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2023.05.027
• Keywords: Obstetrics and Gynecology; Reproductive Medicine
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/21112880
• Publisher URL: https://www.ejog.org/article/S0301-2115(23)00217-8/fulltext
• Related Public URLs: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301211523002178