WHO Recommendation on screening programmes for intrapartum intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis for the prevention of early onset Group B streptococcus disease in newborns
The primary objective of WHO’s recommendations is to provide a foundation for the strategic policy and programme development needed to ensure the sustainable implementation of effective interventions for improving provision and uptake of quality antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care for all women and newborns. Health professionals and policy-makers responsible for developing national and local protocols and health policies constitute the main target audience of this recommendation. Women and their families are an additional target audience as users of services related to interventions for the prevention and treatment of peripartum infections. The guidance provided is evidence-informed and covers topics that were selected and prioritized by an international, multidisciplinary group of maternal and newborn health professionals, social scientists, programme implementers and consumers during a scoping meeting held in April 2021.
WHO has previously published the WHO recommendations for prevention and treatment of maternal peripartum infections. With a view towards promoting the best known clinical practices in labour and childbirth, and improving maternal and newborn outcomes worldwide, WHO will review the evidence for a recommendation related to Screening programmes for intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis for the prevention of early onset Group B streptococcus disease in newborns.
A Guideline Development Group (GDG) meeting will be held in 5 and 6 December 2023 to review the updated evidence base on this recommendation . In keeping with the requirements of the WHO Guidelines Review Committee and the WHO Compliance, Risk Management and Ethics Office, we are posting online short biographies of the GDG members. The listed candidates have also submitted a Declaration of Interest form stating any conflict of interests. WHO has applied its internal processes to ensure that the performance of the above tasks by members of this group will be transparent and without any significant conflict of interests (academic, financial, or other) that could affect the credibility of the guideline. Nevertheless, WHO invites the general public to review the experts and stakeholders involved and provide feedback regarding any member deemed to have a significant conflict of interest with respect to the terms of reference for this group. Comments and feedbacks should be cordial and constructive , and sent to lavint@who.int by 1 December 2023.