Obstetrician preferences for prenatal strategies to reduce early-onset group B streptococcal infection in neonates: a population-based survey.
OBJECTIVE
In light of a recent proposal to legislate group B streptococcal prevention strategies in New Jersey, this study examined obstetrician preferences and practices toward group B streptococcal prevention strategies in neonates.


METHODS
This was a mail survey of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Fellows in New Jersey. Physician characteristics, existing guideline preferences, and reported actual group B streptococcal prevention practices were measured.


RESULTS
Of the 695 potential respondents, 306 responses (44.7%) were received for analysis. Respondent stated preferences were for guidelines from the Centers for Disease and Prevention (74.5%), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (12.7%), American Academy of Pediatrics (9.2%), and others (3.6%). The proportions of obstetricians who actually adhere to their stated preference were 57.5%, 64.1%, and 39.3% in Centers for Disease and Prevention, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and American Academy of Pediatrics group, respectively. Only 40.7% of the obstetricians cultured the anorectal/vaginal area for group B streptococcal carriers. An overwhelming 86.7% of obstetricians do not support legislation that regulates neonatal group B streptococcal preventing practices.


CONCLUSIONS
Obstetrician preferences for use of existing group B streptococcal guidelines are often not reflected by their actual stated practices. However, obstetricians do not support legislative regulation of group B streptococcal prevention practices.
Petrova
Anna
A
Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, USA. petroran@umdnj.edu
Smulian
John C
JC
Ananth
Cande V
CV
D000328:Adult; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009774:Obstetrics; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae