Evaluation of the Xpert® group B streptococcus real-time polymerase chain reaction assay compared to StrepB Carrot Broth™ for the rapid intrapartum detection of group B streptococcus colonization.

Xpert group B streptococcus (GBS) was compared to StrepB Carrot Broth™ (SCB) for the detection of intrapartum GBS colonization by dually collecting vaginal/rectal swabs from 231 women. Xpert GBS detected all of the cases (45, 19.5%), but 4 were missed by SCB.

Evaluation of StrepB carrot broth versus Lim broth for detection of group B Streptococcus colonization status of near-term pregnant women.

The performance of StrepB Carrot Broth (SCB) versus group B Lim broth (LIM) for detection of group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization status in near-term pregnant women (35 to 37 weeks of gestation) was evaluated. Dually collected vaginal/rectal swabs from 279 women enrolled from a single large maternity clinic were analyzed. Fifty (18%) women were colonized by GBS according to both methods.

The prevention of sudden cardiac death: the role of the automated external defibrillator.

Sudden death is usually the result of hemodynamically destabilizing ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Because the only definitive treatment for ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation is a direct current shock, and because that defibrillating shock must be given very quickly to be effective, the American Heart Association's "chain of survival" approach to persons with a cardiac arrest emphasizes early access to care, early cardiopulmonary resuscitation, early cardiac defibrillation and early advanced life support. The link in this chain of survival that has been changing most dramatically over the past decade is that of early defibrillation.