The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a new guideline urging healthcare providers to screen pregnant women for Group B streptococcus (GBS) to prevent severe infections in newborns. GBS, a common bacterium (streptococcus agalactiae), can cause critical conditions like sepsis and meningitis in infants. Each year, nearly 400,000 newborns globally are affected by GBS, often passed on from mothers during childbirth.
WHO recommends two approaches for prevention: universal screening or risk-based screening. Universal screening involves routine testing of all pregnant women around 35-37 weeks through a simple swab test. If GBS is found, antibiotics are given during labour to prevent the bacteria from reaching the baby. In a risk-based approach, doctors assess if a woman shows factors like fever, early water breakage, or a history of GBS, and offer antibiotics accordingly.
While studies show universal screening may reduce GBS infections more effectively, it can be costly and challenging in low-resource areas. WHO emphasises the need for flexibility based on local healthcare capabilities.
Both approaches aim to reduce newborn severe complications caused by GBS, offering a tailored strategy for global health systems.
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