• No screening test is entirely accurate.
• 17% to 25% of women who have a positive swab at 35–37 weeks of gestation will be GBS negative at delivery.
•  5% to 7% of women who are GBS negative at 35–37 weeks of gestation will be GBS positive at delivery.
• Many of the babies who are severely affected from GBS infection are born prematurely, before the suggested time for screening.

- For pregnancies at more than 16 weeks of gestation the term low-lying placenta should be used when the placental edge is less than 20 mm from the internal os on transabdominal or transvaginal scanning (TVS).

• The term placenta praevia should be used when the placenta lies directly over the internal os.

The algorithm suggested by RCOG for low lying placenta can be accessed HERE 

• IAP( Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis)  is recommended for women in confirmed preterm labour.  The risk of GBS infection is higher with preterm delivery and the mortality rate from infection is increased (20–30% versus 2–3% at term). For this reason, IAP is recommended for women in confirmed preterm labour.
• There is no evidence that intrapartum vaginal cleansing will reduce the risk of neonatal GBS disease.
• Polymerase chain reaction or other near-patient testing at the onset of labour is not recommended.

Conception during tamoxifen therapy should be avoided because
of potential teratogenicity, and a ‘washout period’ of 2–3 months is advised

In pregnancies<12 weeks gestation, anti-D Ig prophylaxis is only indicated following ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, therapeutic termination of pregnancy and in
cases of uterine bleeding where this is repeated, heavy
or associated with abdominal pain. The minimum dose should be 250 IU. A test for fetomaternal haemorrhage (FMH) is not required

After collection, swabs should be placed in a non-nutrient transport medium, such as Amies or Stuart. Specimens should be transported and processed as soon as possible. If processing is delayed, specimens should be refrigerated. When testing for GBS, the lab should be specifically informed that the swab is for GBS testing.

It is not necessary to administer anti-D Ig to D negative females without childbearing potential, or males who receive D positive platelets.

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• Anthracyline regimens are safe
• There are fewer data on taxanes, which should be reserved for high-risk (node-positive) or metastatic disease.
• Tamoxifen is not used until after delivery.
• Trastuzumab  is contraindicated during pregnancy.
• Haemopoietic growth factors (granulocyte colony stimulating factor) may be employed to ameliorate chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.

The UK National Screening Committee examined the issue of strategies recommended that routine screening using bacteriological culture or near-patient testing techniques should not be introduced into UK practice.

The US Guidelines advise that all pregnant women should be offered screening for GBS carriage at 35–37 weeks of gestation and those found to be colonised with GBS should be offered intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis.

The recommended dose is - 3 g intravenous benzylpenicillin be given as soon as possible after the onset of labour  and 1.5 g 4 hourly until delivery.
The first dose should be given at least 4 hours prior to delivery.

It should be done at 32–34 weeks of gestation for women with twins.

The recommended time of testing is 3–5 weeks prior to the anticipated delivery date- therefore  35–37 weeks of gestation in singleton pregnancies with no risk factors for preterm delivery.