EFFICACY OF A UNIVERSAL SCREENING-PROGRAM FOR THE PREVENTION OF NEONATAL GROUP-B STREPTOCOCCAL DISEASE

Universal antepartum vaginal cultures for group B streptococcus (GBS) were initiated in a Spanish hospital in 1994 using Granada medium. Inf ants born to carriers were monitored closely, and blood, Urine and muc ocutaneous areas were cultured for GBS. Group B streptococcus was dete cted in 543 of 4,525 women (12%). Of these, 454 gave birth vaginally, of whom 201 (44%) received intrapartum ampicillin. Prophylaxis was not administered to 253 women (56%). In this group, infants of 120 women were colonized and 1 case of neonatal GBS disease occurred. Using this protocol, most GBS carriers with risk factors received intrapartum pr ophylaxis. This protocol also led to early identification of colonized newborns.