STREPTOCOCCUS
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what consideration he has given to introducing a pilot antenatal screening programme for group B streptococcus; and what the estimated cost would be; [123514]
(2) what assessment he has made of the recent report by Group B Streptococcus Support on the introduction of screening in the UK; [123515]
(3) what steps he plans to take to prevent preventable cases of group B streptococcus infection in newborn babies. [123527]
Dr Poulter, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health: The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four United Kingdom countries about all aspects of screening policy, including screening policy for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage in pregnancy. In 2008-09 the UK NSC recommended that a national screening programme to test for GBS carriage in pregnancy using the enriched culture medium test should not be offered.
The UK NSC is currently reviewing the evidence for screening for GBS carriage in pregnancy, a public consultation on the screening review opened on 16 July 2012 and will close on 23 October 2012. As part of the consultation, Group B Streptococcus Support's report, ‘Screening will save newborn lives: A case for the introduction of routine screening for group B streptococcus in late pregnancy’ will be discussed by the UK NSC. The Department expects to receive a recommendation from the UK NSC in the autumn.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) published on 18 July 2012 a revised Green-Top guideline, originally published in November 2003, to take into account any new evidence on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease. In addition, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published a new guideline on antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of early-onset neonatal infection, including GBS on 22 August 2012.
National guidelines are developed to set the standards for high quality health care. In the prevention of early onset GBS disease, local maternity services should develop local guidelines (based on the RCOG's and NICE'S national guideline) which all medical and midwifery staff would be expected to follow. The implementation of all guidelines should be audited regularly to confirm compliance and formulate an action plan for change in areas such as service.
The RCOG has produced patient information, ‘Preventing group B streptococcus infection in newborn babies (information for you)’, for women and their families who are expecting a baby or are planning to get pregnant. Advice from that guidance also features on the NHS Choices website.