Table 5. Challenges in isolation of GBS and other pathogens from blood cultures in Nigeria.

	Challenge	Outcome
1.	Lack of continuous availability of blood culture specimen bottles	Missed opportunities for pathogen detection in septic babies is specified in one study [54] but may have also occurred in other studies
2.	Non-availability of critical materials in identification GBS	Reports of isolation of non-specific ‘streptococci’, ‘beta haemolytic streptococci’, and ‘unidentified bacteria’ with consequent under reporting of GBS isolates.
3.	Requirement of payment for blood culture testing before specimen are obtained.	Inadvertent commencement of antibiotics with resultant reduced yield from blood cultures. Non-collection of specimen with missed opportunities for detection.
4.	Use of manual blood culture systems	Lower sensitivity and lack of antibiotic removal devices result in reduced blood culture yield.