OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of the guidelines of the Centers of Disease Control (CDC, 2002) regarding the prophylaxes of group B Streptococcus (GBS) early onset neonatal sepsis. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study by chart review of 125 pregnant women colonized by GBS and 133 neonates born at a 3rd level maternity hospital, from January/2003 to December/2006. The intrapartum management was deemed correct when pregnant women were given prophylactic antibiotic at least four hours before delivery or when they did not receive medication but were submitted to elective cesarean section. The intrapartum management was considered incorrect when the pregnant woman was given antibiotic prophylaxis less than four hours before delivery, when the antibiotic prescription was inadequate or no prophylaxis had been prescribed. RESULTS: The prevalence of maternal colonization by GBS was 4.7%. The time when the vaginal/rectal swab was collected ranged between 14-40 (mean 32) weeks of gestation. Among the colonized mothers, 54 (43%) received correct intrapartum management. Among 133 studied infants, 95 (71%) received a correct diagnosis; 17 (13%) developed clinical sepsis and one (0.75%) had proven bacterial sepsis. The incidence of sepsis was higher in infants whose mothers did not receive a correct intrapartum prophylaxis, but this difference was not significant (18 versus 7%, p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although the guidelines to prevent perinatal GBS disease are in place, there are flaws in the intrapartum prophylaxis and in infants' evaluation. These flaws represent missed opportunities to prevent early onset GBS sepsis.
streptococcus agalactiae; antibiotic prophylaxis; sepsis; guideline adherence
