Cost consequences of elimination of the routine group B streptococcus culture at a teaching hospital

To evaluate the cost consequence of the elimination of routine Group B streptococcus (GBS) cultures in pregnancy utilizing risk factor assessment management recommendations of the Center for Disease Control.

This retrospective study cohort population included all delivering patients from June 1, 1996, to May 31, 1997, managed by the Morbidity Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) guidelines May 31, 1996, for GBS in pregnancy compared to the previous 29 months cohort from January 1, 1994, to May 31, 1996, managed with routine GBS cultures done at 35-37 weeks.

Of the 7,681 culture management control cohort patients, there were four neonates with culture-positive GBS sepsis (1/1,900). The cost for detection of a single positive culture in an affected neonate was $8,627 ($34,509/4) and there were 2,875 personnel hours expended. In contrast, of the 2,011 patients in the risk factor management cohort, there were two cases of neonatal GBS sepsis ($111,005). The cost for detection of a positive culture in an affected neonate was $1,579 ($3,159/2) and there were 263 personnel hours expended in the risk factor management group. In spite of these significant laboratory savings, we noted a concurrent increase in the total cost in the newborn nursery for septic work-ups and treatment from $2.4 million to $3.1 million.

Risk assessment management of GBS provided a savings of both money ($7,048/positive neonatal culture) and laboratory time (586 personnel hours/positive neonatal culture). However, these savings were more than offset by cost increases occurring in the newborn nursery ($400,000), demonstrating the necessity of practice patterns to undergo concurrent evaluation to verify cost savings and prevent shifting of expenses.