NeoNotes Journal Club
Andrew B. Kairalla MD, Editor

3-054 | Additional Comments | Previous Article | Next Article | List of Articles | Submit Comments | Index | FSN Home Page

New GBS Prevention Guidelines
Prevention of Perinatal Group B Streptococcal Disease: Revised Guidelines from CDC.
 Schrag S, Gorwitz R, Fultz-Butts K, et al.  MMWR 2002; 51(R11):1-22.

 Summary of New Obstetric Management

2.       Antibiotics Selection for IAP

      Ø       Designates change or addition to 1996 CDC guidelines.
ü      
Designates reiteration of 1996 CDC guidelines.

 ü       Penicillin G remains the drug of choice.  The dose is 5 million units IV x1, then 2.5 million units IV q4h until delivery. 

ü       Ampicillin (2 g IV, then 1 g IV q4h until delivery) remains an acceptable alternative.

Ø       For Penicillin-allergic women who are not at high risk for anaphylaxis, cefazolin (2 g IV, then 1 g IV q8h until delivery) is now recommended. 

Ø       Due to increasing resistance of GBS isolates to erythromycin and clindamycin, penicillin-allergic women who are considered to be at high risk for anaphylaxis should be given these drugs for IAP only if their GBS isolates are known to be sensitive to them.

Ø       An alternative medication for IAP in women with immediate penicillin hypersensitivity is vancomycin (1 g IV q12h until delivery). 


Suggested Discussion Points:

1.           Will obstetricians be willing to try cefazolin in penicillin-allergic women who are at “low risk for anaphylaxis”? 

2.           Will doing sensitivities on all positive GBS screening cultures be cost-effective?

3.           Why vancomycin??  Especially when hospitals are trying to restrict vancomycin use due to the emergence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcci.

Comment:  From a neonatal standpoint, “adequate IAP” is defined as receiving either penicillin, ampicillin or cefazolin at least 4 hours before delivery.  The effectiveness of IAP against GBS with other antibiotics is unknown.  Treatment started less than 4 hours before delivery or with a different drug is considered “partial IAP”, and may effect the evaluation, treatment or observation period required of the baby (see New Neonatal Management section). ABK.

Additional Comments: You may add your own comments to the discussion of this topic by selecting : Submit Comments.

Return to top

Hit Counter