Pregnancy

By releasing data the Centers for Disease control is hoping to show that frequent screening for Group B Strep a the end of pregnancy is the most effective in preventing the bacteria from being spread from mother to baby during child birth.

Group B Strep

Dr. Julie Gerberding, Director of CDC said, "Group B Strep disease remains a leading infectious cause of illness and death among newborns in the United States, resulting in approximately 1,600 illnesses and 80 deaths each year. It's hoped that the results of this study will lead to more doctors and other health care providers routinely screening women late in pregnancy for this bacteria, which can lead to long-term developmental disabilities, such as mental retardation, or hearing or vision loss in children who survive an infection."

In the guidelines released in 1996 to keep the bacteria from spreading to baby from the mother suggests that two methods as preventative measures: Prescribe antibiotics to women with medical risk aspects for communication of the infection at birth such as fever, prolonged interval between rupture of the membranes and delivery, or early delivery.

Test women for the presence of Group B Strep among weeks 35 and 37 of their pregnancy and then prescribe antibiotics during birth to those who are carriers.

Prenatal screening is the preferred method of treatment according to the data released recently and was more than fifty percent more effective in keeping the bacteria from being spread than the clinical risk factor method.