Indicated preterm birth: a possible contribution to group B streptococcal sepsis prophylaxis protocol failures. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Despite the acceptance of protocols for the prevention of group B streptococcal (GBS) sepsis for the newborn, protocol violations, with subsequent failure to initiate intrapartum antibiotic therapy, occur at many institutions. The causes for GBS prophylaxis protocol violations are not well understood. CASES: We report two cases of indicated preterm birth in which appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis for GBS sepsis was not initiated. CONCLUSION: In the setting of indicated preterm birth, GBS prophylaxis may be overlooked. We suspect that the attention given to the medical or fetal complications of indicated preterm birth may contribute to the omission of GBS sepsis prophylaxis in these situations.