Rapid intrapartum test for maternal group B streptococcal colonisation and its effect on antibiotic use in labouring women with risk factors for early-onset neonatal infection (GBS2): cluster randomised trial with nested test accuracy study.

Summary

UK cluster randomised trial (GBS2) across 20 maternity units comparing a point-of-care rapid intrapartum PCR test for maternal group B Streptococcus colonisation with usual risk-factor-based care in women with risk factors for early-onset neonatal infection. The rapid test did not reduce intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis rates compared with usual care, though with considerable uncertainty. A nested accuracy study found acceptable sensitivity and specificity against enrichment culture. A microbiological sub-study showed babies of mothers carrying antibiotic-resistant E. coli were more likely to be colonised with resistant strains.

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