Participant and sample characteristics
There were no differences in the sample sizes (mean comparison of the number of specimens: t = 0.372, df = 43, p = 0.712; number of women: t = 0.862, df = 43, p = 0.394). However, there was large variability in sample size and number of specimens collected in studies that reported and did not report GBS. Additionally, four manuscripts that did not report GBS within the taxonomy analyzed, or overall metagenomic results, did report positive culture-based GBS clinical screening results for women within the study.8–11