Streptococcus agalactiae is an important human opportunistic pathogen, especially infectious for pregnant women and neonates. This pathogen belongs to beta hemolytic Streptococcus spp. representatives and accounts for a significant part of early infections in newborns, including serious life-threatening infections. This research investigated the usefulness of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protocol for S. agalactiae DNA detection in 250 samples of recto-vaginal swabs collected from pregnant women (at 35–37 weeks of gestation) and pre-cultured overnight in liquid medium. With an application of the CDC protocol-based real-time PCR, the cfb gene was detected in 68 (27.2%) samples compared to 41 (16.4%) for the standard culture-based methodology. The applied molecular method presented high sensitivity (100.0%) and specificity (87.1%). Therefore, it allowed for more precise detection of S. agalactiae bacteria, compared to the reference diagnostic method, culture on solid media with the following strain identification. The increased sensitivity of GBS detection may result in a reduced number of infections in newborns and leads to more targeted antimicrobial prophylaxis therapy of GBS infections in pregnant women. In addition, the use of the molecular method allows for a significant reduction in the time needed to obtain a result for GBS detection, and interpretation of the results is relatively simple. Therefore, it enables a faster intervention in case of a necessity of an antibiotic therapy introduction in pregnant women whose GBS status is unknown at the time of delivery.

Introduction The purpose of this pilot study was to examine relationships between body image, perceived stress, partner and patient-provider sexual communication, and sexual functioning in women with advanced stages of cervical cancer (CC) after the cancer diagnosis. Methods In this pilot study, cancer patients (n = 30) and healthy women (n = 30) were compared. A study was conducted from January to March 2022. Sexual functioning and its predictors were assessed using the 6-item Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-6), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Sexual Communication Self-Efficacy Scale (SCSES), the self-administered questionnaire contributing the patient-provider sexual communication, and the Body Esteem Scale (BES). The data was collected from January to June 2022. Results Women with cervical cancer after the diagnosis reported impaired sexual functioning, which was associated with self-efficacy in sexual communication, feeling comfortable discussing sexual issues with a healthcare provider, perceived stress, and body image. Compared to the control group, CC patients had significantly lower sexual functioning (mean 8.83 vs 19.23; p < 0.001). Conclusions Sexual functioning in women with CC is significantly impaired even after the diagnosis and is associated with psychosocial variables. The expanded study will include other predictors of sexual functioning and quality of life in women with CC on the larger group of patients. Policy Implications As cancer becomes a more chronic disease that affects even younger individuals, social policy should promote the sexuality issues in cancer patients, as it is an integral part of every person’s life, regardless of health status or age.