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Group B streptococcal septicemia of the newborn   

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Streptococcus agalactiae; Sepsis of the newborn; Lancefield group B streptococcus; Group B streptococcus

Prevention

The American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have agreed upon two algorithms to be followed to decrease the risk of Group B Strep disease in infants. In the first, Pregnant women are tested for group B strep at 35 to 37 weeks of pregnancy and those who are colonized are given intravenous antibiotics during labor. Studies suggest that giving antibiotics to pregnant women before onset of labor or membrane rupture is unlikely to prevent group B strep disease in the newborn. In the second algorithm, prenatal screening is not done and women are given antibiotics during labor if they meet certain risk factors. Both algorithms are currently accepted as standard of care. In all cases, proper hand washing by nursery caretakers, visitors, and parents helps prevent transmission after the infant is born. A high index of suspicion increases the likelihood of an early diagnosis in infants who "don't look quite right." Although early diagnosis is not preventative, it can help decrease the risk of some of the more devastating complications.

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