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. Infants born to carriers were monitored closely, and blood, urine and mucocutaneous areas were cultured for GBS. Group B streptococcus was detected 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 prophylaxis. This protocol also led to early identification of colonized newborns.
Microbiology Service, Virgen de las Nieves Hospital, Granada, Spain.
M
M
de Cueto
M J
MJ
Sánchez
L
L
Moltó
J A
JA
Miranda
A J
AJ
Herruzo
A
A
Ruiz-Bravo
M
M
de la Rosa-Fraile
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology