THIS IS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION. THE GUIDELINES ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE. (from a colleague's conference notes) The US Center for Disease Control will issue new guidelines for the management of Group B strep. The reccomendation is for vaginal and rectal culture at 34 -36 weeks gestation, with treatment of carriers during labor. Treatment is with Penicillin or other antibiotics if allergic to penicillin. If the mother does not receive antibiotics there are quidelines for what should be done to observe the baby and when treatment is indicated. The greatest danger is to the infant from pneumonia and/or sepsis. This may develop shortly after birth or several days to weeks later. It can rapidly overwhelm an infant and lead to septic shock. About 30 percent of women in some groups are carriers. There should be no problem with an infant nursing, except for the protocols that some places will be likely to implement regarding how the baby must be observed. Since in the US the mother may be forced by insurance to leave at 24 hours and the guidelines reccommend observation of the baby for 48 hours this will mean mother and infant will be separated. There is also testing that is reccommended- cultures, obsevation, up to a spinal tap if maternal temp in labor is observed. There are also guidelines for when the infant should be given antibiotics. When I have the guidelines I will post them. Remember **this is preliminary information from someone's notes** wait for the final version from the CDC before using this information in your practice. Or call the CDC in Atlanta for your own copy of the information.