Abstract
BackgroundThe crude rate of early-onset Group B streptococcus disease (EOGBS) in Israel has been consistently under 0.5 for 1000 live births for the past 8 years. The Israeli Ministry of Health has adapted the risk factor based approach for preventing EOGBS and universal bacteriological screening for GBS is not recommended. In spite of this policy, there are indications that many pregnant women in Israel undergo bacteriological screening for GBS.The objective of this study is to assess the rate and characteristics of pregnant women who undergo screening for group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization in Israel.MethodsSurvey of expectant mothers who came to give birth in 29 delivery rooms throughout Israel during the month of July 2012 regarding GBS screening practice and demographics.ResultsA total of 2968 pregnant women participated in the assessment. Among them, 935 women (31.5 %) had been tested for GBS colonization. About 90 % of those women had no risk factors, only 542 women (60 %) underwent testing during the recommended gestational timing (35–37 weeks) and 23 % of the tested women reported being GBS carriers.GBS screening as part of the routine pregnancy follow- up was associated with: residence district, intermediate or high socioeconomic rank, being a member of certain health maintenance organization and being Jewish.Characteristics found to be significantly associated with being a GBS carrier were: low socioeconomic rank, and having a risk factor for GBS infection.ConclusionsA substantial number of pregnant women in Israel undergo screening for GBS colonization despite the national policy against universal screening. While GBS colonization was more prevalent in women of lower socioeconomic status, screening is done more often in those of higher socioeconomic status, suggesting unnecessary monetary expenses.
Highlights
The crude rate of early-onset Group B streptococcus disease (EOGBS) in Israel has been consistently under 0.5 for 1000 live births for the past 8 years
The relatively high rate of group B streptococcus (GBS) testing reported by women with no known risk factors for GBS carriage, suggests that the test is performed in Israel in a substantial number of cases despite the lack of recommendation for a universal GBS screening
Our study showed that lower socioeconomic status and having a medical reason for GBS testing were associated with GBS colonization
Summary
The crude rate of early-onset Group B streptococcus disease (EOGBS) in Israel has been consistently under 0.5 for 1000 live births for the past 8 years. The Israeli Ministry of Health has adapted the risk factor based approach for preventing EOGBS and universal bacteriological screening for GBS is not recommended. In spite of this policy, there are indications that many pregnant women in Israel undergo bacteriological screening for GBS. Israel has adopted the risk-based approach in which pregnant women are not routinely screened for GBS carriage [7], but rather receive IAP if they have at least one of the following risk factors: labor before week 37, prolonged (above 18 h) rupture of membranes, fever above 38 °C during labor, a previous infant with GBS disease, and GBS bacteriuria at any stage of pregnancy. Among infants whose mothers had risk factors, the incidence was 0.50 per 1000 live births, while the multi-year incidence among infants whose mothers had no risk factors was 0.20 per 1000 live births [8]
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