[Screening for hemolytic streptococcus group B in pregnancy and prevention of infection in neonates].

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of Group B streptococcus (GBS) screening and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis to the incidence of GBS disease in newborns.

DESIGN

Prospective non-randomised study.

SETTING

IInd Clinic of Obstetric and Gynaecology LFUK and FNsP Ruzinov, Bratislava, Slovakia.

METHODS

We enrolled 3023 newborns (754 in the study group, 2269 in the control group), which were born between 1.9.2000 and 31.3.2003. In both groups we compared following variables: total number of infectious diseases in newborns, number and forms of GBS neonatal disease, number of perinatal death due to GBS disease.

RESULTS

There was no GBS disease in the study group of 754 newborns. Mothers of these newborns had one screening culture in 35-36th week of gestation. One swab was taken from vagina and anus. GBS carriers (161-21.4%) were administered i.v. intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis with Penicillin G i.v., or, when allergy to penicillin was in history, with Clindamycin i.v. In the control group of 2269 newborns, whose mothers had no prevention, the incidence of GBS neonatal disease reached 7.5/1000 newborns (17 cases). The incidence of invasive GBS neonatal disease was 2.6/1000 newborns.

CONCLUSION

The authors have noticed a significant decrease in incidence of GBS neonatal disease after implication of GBS screening and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis.