title: Intrapartum antibiotics for group B streptococcal colonisation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Group B streptococcal infection is common in pregnant women without causing harm. However it is also a significant cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this review was to assess the effects of intrapartum administration of antibiotics to women on infant colonization with group B streptococcus, early onset neonatal group B streptococcus sepsis and neonatal death from infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register was searched.
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled trials of pregnant women colonized with group B streptococcus comparing intrapartum antibiotic administration with no treatment, and providing data on infant colonization with group B streptococcus and/or neonatal infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligibility and trial quality assessment were done by one reviewer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five trials were included. Overall quality was poor, with potential selection bias in all the identified studies. Intrapartum antibiotic treatment reduced the rate of infant colonization (odds ratio 0.10, 95% confidence interval 0.07 to 0.14) and early onset neonatal infection with group B streptococcus (odds ratio 0.17, 95% confidence interval 0.07 to 0. 39). A difference in neonatal mortality was not seen (odds ratio 0. 12, 95% confidence interval 0.01 to 2.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intrapartum antibiotic treatment of women colonized with group B streptococcus appears to reduce neonatal infection. Effective strategies to detect maternal colonization with group B streptococcus and better data on maternal risk factors for neonatal group B streptococcus infection in different populations are required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University Medical Centre, Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation, Room 2N29, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8N 3Z5. smaill@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Smaill
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000635:transmission*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents