Group B Streptococcal Disease in the Era of Intrapartum Antibiotic Prophylaxis

Abstract

Group B streptococcal infections are a leading cause of neonatal mortality, and they also affect pregnant women and the elderly. Many cases of the disease in newborns can be prevented by the administration of prophylactic intrapartum antibiotics. In the 1990s, prevention efforts increased. In 1996, consensus guidelines recommended use of either a risk-based or a screening-based approach to identify candidates for intrapartum antibiotics. To assess the effects of the preventive efforts, we analyzed trends in the incidence of group B streptococcal disease from 1993 to 1998.