[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.