Guidelines
OB Group B Streptococcus (GBS) Prophylaxis: Intrapartum

OB Group B Streptococcus (GBS) Prophylaxis: Intrapartum

Recommendations

  • Offer all women screening for GBS at 35-37 weeks gestation with vaginal/rectal cultures, regardless of planned mode of delivery
  • Screening may be offered at an earlier gestational age in women who are at higher risk of needing early delivery

    • e.g. an at risk pregnancy that may require delivery before 37 weeks and in whom a recent (≤5 weeks) negative culture would prevent the need for antibiotics
  • Women with indications for GBS prophylaxis do not require screening

  • Swab the lower vagina and then the rectal area using the same swab
  • Women can be instructed to collect their own samples
  • If the woman is penicillin allergic, indicate "Penicillin allergy" on the requisition

    • Whether the reaction is anaphylaxis or not, request antibiotic susceptibility testing on GBS cultures in women who are though to have a significant risk of anaphylaxis from penicillin

Treatment

At onset of active labour or at time of ruptured membranes with immediate induction of labour

At onset of active labour or at time of ruptured membranes with immediate induction of labour

At onset of active labour or at time of ruptured membranes with immediate induction of labour

At onset of active labour or at time of ruptured membranes with immediate induction of labour

Culture not done, incomplete, or results unknown

Additional Information