Maternal colonisation with group B streptococcus and effectiveness of a culture-based protocol to prevent early-onset neonatal sepsis

Int J Clin Pract. 2004 Aug;58(8):735-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1368-5031.2004.00025.x.

Abstract

This study was conducted to find out the group B streptococcus colonisation of pregnant women in Kocaeli, Turkey. A culture plus individualised high-risk-based antibiotic prophylaxis was compared with high-risk-based approach alone. The screening of women was performed via vaginal and anal cultures for group B streptococcus (GBS). The maternal GBS colonisation rate was found to be 6.5%. All colonised women or preterm labours with unavailable culture results until delivery received prophylactic antibiotics. Neonatal colonisation rate and early-onset neonatal sepsis due to GBS was 1/200. The unscreened 900 women received prophylactic antibiotics due to a risk factor-based approach. The neonatal colonisation rate was 17/900 (p = 0.1), and the rate of early-onset neonatal sepsis was 3/900 (p = 0.6). A culture plus individualised high-risk-based antibiotic prophylaxis provided an insignificant change in neonatal colonisation and early-onset neonatal sepsis with GBS when compared with high-risk-based approach alone.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Clinical Protocols
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / microbiology*
  • Sepsis / prevention & control*
  • Streptococcal Infections / prevention & control*
  • Streptococcus agalactiae*