Antepartum Versus Intrapartum Selective Screening for Maternal Group B Streptococcal Colonization

Selective antepartum culturing was performed in pregnant women at high risk for low-birth-weight delivery and neonatal infection, in order to identify the presence of the group B streptococcus (GBS). Intrapartum culturing was performed in an additional group of gravid women when they presented either in premature labor or with prematurely ruptured membranes. Antepartum screening for GBS offered no additional advantage over intrapartum culturing in predicting pregnancies that resulted in neonatal infection. Therefore, an intrapartum approach is recommended.