CDC updated guidelines for prevention of perinatal group B streptococcal disease

**Verani JR. MMWR. 2010;59:1-32.**

The CDC reported revised guidelines for the prevention of group B streptococcal disease in newborns.

In June 2009, clinical and public health representatives met to re-evaluate prevention strategies based on data collected after the issuance of the 2002 guidelines. Revised recommendations were based on available evidence, when such evidence was sufficient, and expert opinion, when available evidence was insufficient.

Key changes in the 2010 guidelines include the following:

Expanded recommendations on laboratory methods for identifying perinatal group B streptococcal disease (GBS).
Clarification of the colony-count threshold required for reporting the detection of GBS in the urine of pregnant women.
Updated algorithms for GBS screening and intrapartum chemoprophylaxis for women with preterm labor or preterm premature membrane rupture.
Change in the recommended dose of penicillin G for chemoprophylaxis.
Updated prophylaxis regimens for women with penicillin allergy.
Revised algorithm for management of newborns with possible risk for early-onset GBS disease.

“Although much progress has been made in the prevention of early-onset GBS disease, important challenges remain,” the researchers wrote. “States are encouraged to monitor incidence of GBS disease, to promote activities that enhance perinatal GBS disease prevention and education, and to assess progress toward national objectives for disease reduction …”

Additional information is available at www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/index.html, www.acog.org, www.aap.org, www.aafp.org, www.midwife.org and www.asm.org.

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