Group B strep: prevention is better than cure.
We believe that the key issue for prevention of EOGBS infection is knowledge-if a pregnant woman knows she carries GBS, or has other risk factors present that increase the risk of her baby developing EOGBS infection, she can be offered IAP to protect her baby from this potentially devastating condition. Of course, women don't have to accept the recommended intravenous antibiotics in labour (or an ECM test, either privately or if available on the NHS) if they choose not to. But surely they should have access to good-quality information so they can make an informed choice about what is right for them and for their unborn baby? And midwives are in the perfect position to ensure that pregnant women have such information, resulting in appropriate treatment, which will minimise the number of babies suffering needlessly from EOGBS infection.
Plumb
Jane
J
Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath, West Sussex.
Holwell
Dawn
D
D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000451:nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006113:United Kingdom