CONTROL OF NEONATAL GROUP-B STREPTOCOCCAL INFECTION

Group B beta-haemolytic streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of li fe-threatening perinatal infection in developed countries. As immuniza tion of women is not yet available, selective intrapartum chemoprophyl axis appears to be the best current strategy for preventing disease. A ll pregnant women should be screened for GBS at 26 to 28 weeks gestati on. During labour, all colonized women with risk factors for invasive GBS neonatal infection should be treated with intravenous penicillin o r ampicillin. Risk factors include preterm labour, premature rupture o f membranes, intrapartum fever, multiple births, prolonged rupture of membranes, maternal diabetes, previous sibling with invasive GBS disea se, and maternal GBS bacteriuria. The latter two categories warrant ch emoprophylaxis regardless of maternal colonization status.