Written question asked by Nick de Bois (Conservative) on Monday, 19 July 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 21 July 2010. It was answered by Anne Milton (Conservative) on Monday, 26 July 2010 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Streptococcus: Babies

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to prevent group B streptococcal infections in newborn babies.

Answer: The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has a Green-top guideline, Prevention of Early onset Group B Streptococcal Disease, which provides guidance for obstetricians midwives and neonatologists on the prevention of early-onset neonatal group S streptococcal (GBS) disease. RCOG also produced parallel patient information, Preventing GBS 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 features on the NHS Choices website and in the Pregnancy book, currently given out to all pregnant women in England.

Secondary information