ABSTRACT
Pregnant women found to have group B streptococcal bacteruria at any stage antepartum should be offered treatment with oral penicillin four times a day for 10 days or erythromycin 500 mg four times a day if allergic to penicillin. Further urine cultures should be sent to check for clearance of group B streptococcal infection 72 h following cessation of antibiotics. All term babies delivered to mothers who were given antibiotics less than 4 h before delivery, or whose mothers should have had antibiotics but did not, should have neonatal surface cultures, full blood count with a differential white cell count, C-reactive protein and a blood culture sent. Asymptomatic twin siblings of babies who develop group B streptococcal disease must be fully screened and treated with intravenous antibiotics. The dose of penicillin should be 100 mg/kg/dose 12-hourly. The dose of gentamicin should be tailored to gestation and weight as given in the Neonatal Unit pharmacopeia.
