| Title | Antenatal screening and intrapartum management of Group B Streptococcus in the UK. | | Author(s) | Kenyon S, Brocklehurst P, Blackburn A, Taylor DJ | | Institution | Reproductive Sciences Section, Clinical Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Leicester, Robert Kilpatrick Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, PO Box 65, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK. | | Source | BJOG 2004 Mar; 111(3):226-30. | | MeSH | Antibiotic Prophylaxis
Female
Great Britain
Health Care Surveys
Hospitalization
Hospitals, Maternity
Humans
Mass Screening
Obstetric Labor Complications
Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital
Organizational Policy
Perinatal Care
Postnatal Care
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
Prenatal Care
Prenatal Diagnosis
Streptococcal Infections
Streptococcus agalactiae
| | Abstract | OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there has been any change in UK policy for the screening and intrapartum management of Group B Streptococcus in pregnancy over a two year period.
DESIGN: Two national survey's of practice carried out in 1999 and 2001.
SETTING: All obstetric units in the UK. POPULATION: Clinical directors of maternity services.
METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to all clinical directors of maternity services in the UK requesting information about their policy and practice with respect to antenatal screening for Group B Streptococcus colonisation. Reminders were sent after one month.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of maternity units in the UK screening and offering intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis for Group B Streptococcus colonisation in pregnancy.
RESULTS: The response rates were 84% in 1999 and 82% in 2001. Of the responding units, six (3%) in 1999 and four (2%) in 2001 used vaginal swab based screening for Group B Streptococcus colonisation in the antenatal period. In 1999, intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis was offered to women with a previous baby affected by Group B Streptococcus in 85% (176/207) of maternity units and in 2001 this had risen to 95% (193/203). Similarly, in 1999 intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis was offered to women who were known carriers of Group B Streptococcus in 87% (179/207) of maternity units and in 2001 this had risen to 95% (193/203). Appropriate dosage of a recommended antibiotic was prescribed in 7% (9/123) units in 1999 and in 20% (35/178) units in 2001.
CONCLUSIONS: Although intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis for women at high risk of giving birth to babies with Group B Streptococcus is widely practiced in the UK, a programme of antenatal screening for Group B Streptococcus colonisation has not been adopted along the lines advocated in the USA. There therefore remains an opportunity to evaluate such a screening programme in a randomised trial. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Journal Article
| | PubMed ID | 14961883 |
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