The usual course of antibiotics for confirmed GBS infection is 7 days
if there is no meningitis, sometimes longer if there is.  Babies with
suspected infection are kept on antibiotics 48 hours pending culture
results.  The cbc is usually a blood cell count, not a culture, and can
indicate suspected infection; cultures usually take 24-48 hours. "NPO"
orders are usually used for babies with pneumonia or symptomatic sepsis, and
just until they are stable.  I'd suggest the mom talk to the resident
involved, and if she doesn't get a satisfactory answer, talk to the
fellow and/or attending physician as well.  Early onset GBS disease can
be devastating, so is usually handled pretty conservatively.  However,
usually once a baby's respiratory rate and oxygenation are stable, s/he
can feed.

--
Anne Montgomery, M.D.
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St.Peter Hospital Family Practice Residency