Compliance with group B streptococcus testing prior to labor and delivery

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Group B Streptococcus (GBS) screening is crucial for preventing neonatal infections.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide specific guidelines for GBS screening timing.
• Evaluating screening practices ensures adherence to established public health recommendations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the adherence to CDC-recommended GBS screening protocols in full-term pregnancies.
• To determine the necessity of rapid GBS testing for women in full-term gestation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort analysis at a large academic institution.
• Inclusion criteria: full-term infants (>37 weeks) with documented prenatal care.
• Primary outcome: documented GBS screening rates and timing.

Main Results:

• 95.76% of women underwent GBS screening prior to labor and delivery, exceeding the 90% hypothesis.
• Only 80.61% of women had GBS cultures performed within the CDC-recommended 35-37 week gestational window.
• This timely screening rate was significantly lower than the 90% hypothesis (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• While overall GBS screening is high, adherence to recommended gestational timing is insufficient.
• Current screening practices suggest rapid GBS testing is not a necessary intervention for full-term pregnancies.
• Optimizing screening timing remains critical for effective GBS prevention strategies.