The Group B Streptococcus (GBS3) trial
Between 1st June 2023 and 31st March 2024 Frimley Health has been taking part in a research trial to assess whether routine testing of all pregnant women for Group B Streptococcus (GBS) reduces the level of newborn infections. GBS is a bacteria commonly found in the gut and genital tract and on rare occasions leads to infection of the newborn baby during labour (approximately 0.4% of all babies born).
Frimley Health has been carrying out usual care, in which we do not test all women routinely but if GBS is identified during pregnancy, antibiotics are offered during labour. The trial has used routinely collected health data from national databases to compare usual care with routine testing of all women, so taking part in the trial has been vital in helping to decide if a change in testing strategy will be recommended. Patient information was linked in a secure database and anonymised by the research team.
The results of the research trial will be published in due course, once all the analysis has been completed.
Further information on the GBS trial can be found here
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) publish information for pregnant women on GBS which can be found here.
You can also read our Frimley Health guidelines about GBS here
If you have any further questions contact your research midwife:
Frimley Park - TBA
Wexham Park
Niki Thatcher
E-mail address: Nicola.thatcher@nhs.net
Contact number: 0300 6154191