Re: [ozmidwifery] Strep B screening

[Jenny Cameron]

Current recommendations in Vic are to offer screening at 35-37 weeks per the CDC evidence. It does appear to be the best available evidence, far better than the risk-based approach of administering IV ABS to a select group of women considered to be 'at-risk'. Women are unlikely to change their status within a month, therefore with screening only those women who test GBS +ve will be offered IV ABs intrapartum to prevent early onset (within the first week of life) GBS pneumonia in the neonate. Also surface swabbing and collection of gastric asp on neonates is a waste of time, the baby will be sick with GBS well before the results of any swabs are available. Many years ago I saw a baby become ill & subsequently die of GBS pneumonia. The baby was term & perfectly welll at birth, within an hour of birth started having apnoeic attacks and four hours later was shocked & gravely ill. The Vic guidelines are currently under review but you can check the site below:   http://www.3centres.com.au/   Jenny Jennifer Cameron FRCNA FACM President NT branch ACMI PO Box 1465 Howard Springs NT 0835 08 8983 1926 0419 528 717     ----- Original Message ----- From: diane To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Monday, November 07, 2005 8:17 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Strep B screening With respect Jenny, Im not sure that too many of the recommendations out of the good old U.S of A could be described as 'best practice'. Here is the NSW directive, it does however, also refer to the CDC guidelines   http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/PD/2005/pdf/PD2005_240.pdf   At our unit we do not routinely swab, we take the risk factor approach,but if it appears in MSU or on a swab done for other reasons we then require our women to birth at Gosford where there are paediatricians they can transfer back after 24-48 hrs Cheers Di ----- Original Message ----- From: Jenny Cameron To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2005 4:52 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Strep B screening Curent best practice is to offer screening for GBS at 35-37 weeks. See site below:   http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/groupbstrep_g.htm   Jenny Jennifer Cameron FRCNA FACM President NT branch ACMI PO Box 1465 Howard Springs NT 0835 08 8983 1926 0419 528 717     ----- Original Message ----- From: Mary Murphy To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Friday, November 04, 2005 6:47 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] Strep B screening I have been told by a pregnant woman that she was reluctant to have a strep B test at 35-37 weeks. She was informed by a doctor in the A/N clinic of our public tertiary hospital, that if she went into labour with an “unknown status” and attended the delivery suite , her baby would have to be given IMI antibiotics until the baby’s screening swabs came back 48hrs later.  She felt that to protect the baby, she had to consent to A/N screening.  Those who recognize the description of this hospital, is that true?  Or has this lady been unintentionally misled?  Does this happen in any other hospitals?  Feel free to email me off line if you don’t want to “speak” publicly. Thanks, MM Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.9/70 - Release Date: 29/09/2005 Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.9/70 - Release Date: 29/09/2005