Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 1999
Group B streptococcus (GBS), or Streptococcus agalactiae, has been a continuing focus of debate in the paediatric and obstetric worlds. The organism has emerged as the leading cause of early-onset neonatal sepsis. With an average of 20% of mothers being carriers for the organism (range from 15–40%), the following questions remain to be answered:
1 How best to screen for GBS and which protocol to use?
2 How best to counsel patients who are GBS carriers?
3 What is the cost effectiveness of the screening protocols?