Group B beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GBS)

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Group B beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of life-threatening perinatal infection of newborns in developed countries. Because a vaccine is not yet available, selective intrapartum chemoprophylaxisis the best current strategy for preventing disease. Joint recommendations ofthe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) are that all pregnant women be screened for GBS at 35 to 37 weeks of gestation. Pregnant women who are colonized with GBS should be treated with intravenous penicillin during labor. Women who have not been screened butexhibit risk factors known to be associated with GBS disease, such as preterm labor and/or membrane rupture at fewer than 37 weeks' gestation, intrapartum fever, and prolonged rupture of membranes > 18 hours, should also receive intrapartum antibiotics if they begin labor. Women with a history of GBSdisease, such as a prior episode of GBS bacteriuria or a previous newborn with invasive GBS disease, are at high risk for recurrent GBS infection. The latter2 categories in particular warrant chemoprophylaxis regardless of colonizationstatus.
Streptococcus agalactiae is a gram-positive group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GBS) that causes invasive disease, primarily in pregnant women and their newborn infants. In non pregnant females, GBS is frequently associated with genitourinary infection, pneumonia, bacteremia, and soft-tissue infections.[1,2] It is the second-most common cause of bacterial urinary tract infections during pregnancy and a well-recognized cause of amnionitis, endometritis, and postpartum wound infections. It is the leading cause of serious perinatal infection and death in the U.S. as well as in most developed countries.[3] For this reason, control of this infection is a priority in obstetric care.

Advances in the diagnosis and management of this infection have led to a 50%reduction in mortality from GBS since 1970. The actual incidence of the disease, however, has remained unchanged over this period of time, indicating that further progress will require improved efforts in prevention as well as inthe treatment of disease. Factors that are associated with GBS colonization in pregnant women and infection in neonates have been evaluated by a task for ceassembled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention