Key Points
- Group B Streptococcus (group B strep, GBS) cause GBS disease.
- Professional associations have issued prevention and management recommendations for GBS disease in newborns.
- CDC's 2010 guidelines are no longer in effect.
- Guidelines for laboratorians are available that focus on detection and identification of GBS bacteria.
Guidelines
Current guidelines related to the prevention and management of GBS in newborns include:
For obstetric providers
2019: Prevention of group B streptococcal early-onset disease in newborns
App available for obstetric providers
Use the "Prevent Group B Strep" app to achieve better implementation of obstetric guidelines.
For pediatric providers
2019: Management of infants at risk for group B streptococcal disease
2018: Management of infants with suspected or proven early-onset sepsis
About the guidelines
The following groups have worked together on GBS prevention for many years:
- American Academy of Family Physicians
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- American College of Nurse-Midwives
- American Society for Microbiology
- CDC
The guidelines on this page represents both progress and continued collaboration between these groups. They replace the 2010 guidelines previously published by CDC.
These organizations remain committed to working together to protect newborns from GBS disease.
Resources
Guidelines for the detection and identification of group B Streptococcus
American Society for Microbiology