Reduction of early-onset group b streptoccal sepsis with universal screening and intrapartum antimicrobial therapy for preterm and colonized term parturients

Abstract

Objective: To determine if universal group B streptococcal (GBS) screening at 35–36 weeks of gestation with intrapartum antimicobial prophylaxis for all women delivering preterm and colonized term parturients is effective in reducing early-onset GBS sepsis.Study design: Retrospective analysis of rates of neonatal early-onset sepsis (EOS) during three time periods: period 1—no systematic GBS prevention scheme; period 2—universal GBS screening/selective antibiotics; and period 3—universal GBS screening/antibiotics for all preterm and colonized term parturients.Results: There was a progressive statistically significant decrease in the incidence of early-onset GBS neonatal sepsis associated with universal screening and increased intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of EOS from non-GBS bacteria noted between study periods.Conclusion: Universal GBS screening with intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis for preterm parturients and GBS colonized women delivering at term reduces the incidence of early-onset GBS sepsis when compared with no systematic prevention scheme. ∗EOS-GBS∗Non-GBS EOSNRate/1,000NRate/1,000Period 1 (N = 8,170)141.750.6Period 2 (N = 7,009)60.940.6Period 3 (N = 9,757)30.340.4∗P < 0.001 by χ2.