The effect of universal maternal screening on the incidence of neonatal early-onset group B streptococcal disease.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of the revised guidelines on incidence of neonatal early-onset group B streptococcal disease (EoGBS) via retrospective analysis of births in a military population.


METHODS
Information from records of all live births within military hospitals from 1993 to 2007 was obtained. The data were divided into three time frames, representing the evolution of identifying and managing at-risk deliveries for GBS transmission. Incidence of EoGBS decreased from 1.95 to 0.72 per 1000 live births following institution of the 1996 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations and continued to fall to 0.47 per 1000 since the adoption of universal screening in 2002.


CONCLUSIONS
Universal culture-based screening is more effective than risk-based screening in preventing EoGBS in term infants. Cases of EoGBS continue to occur, however, at a baseline rate of nearly 0.5 per 1000 births, thus emphasizing the need for rapid diagnostics and ultimately a vaccine.
Eberly
Matthew D
MD
Department of Pediatrics, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-4712, USA. meberly@usuhs.mil
Rajnik
Michael
M
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D002353:Carrier State / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents