Maternal Obesity and Rectovaginal Group B Streptococcus Colonization at Term.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that maternal obesity is an independent risk factor for rectovaginal group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization at term.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study of consecutive women with singleton term pregnancies admitted in labor at Barnes-Jewish Hospital (2004-2008). Maternal BMI≥30 Kg/m2 (obese) or <30 Kg/m2 (nonobese) defined the two comparison groups.

Discussion: 'Tachysystole in term labor,' by Heuser et al.

In the roundtable that follows, clinicians discuss a study published in this issue of the Journal in light of its methodology, relevance to practice, and implications for future research.