Group-B strep screening to be offered to mums-to-be

80 hospitals throughout England, Scotland and Wales are to offer pilot screening for the life-threatening bacterial infection which affects newborns.

Around one in five pregnant women carry group-B streptococcus (GBS) which, if left undiagnosed, can be passed on to the unborn child.

In the UK, around 400 to 500 babies are born with the infection each year. Although most of these fully recover, it can lead to meningitis, pneumonia and sepsis.

The pilot will compare the results of two tests, one which involves a sample test taken between 35 and 37 weeks into pregnancy, and the other which will give an immediate result and could be taken whilst the woman is in labour.

Professor Jane Daniels who was involved in the research, said “We want to answer the question for the NHS – should you test pregnant women for GBS or not, and if you’re going to test, is it better to do a culture test at 35 to 37 weeks pregnancy or a bedside test?

“Hopefully the trial will answer these questions.

“We believe that, if testing is proved effective, this would mean that the right women get the right antibiotics.”

Charity Group B Strep Support’s Jane Plumb, said “The results of this important trial will drive improvements in UK policy and lead to fewer babies and their families suffering the trauma that group-B strep infection can bring.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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