Kollée L A, Speyer I, van Kuijck M A, Koopman R, Dony J M, Bakker J H, Wintermans R G
Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1989 Apr;31(1):47-51. doi: 10.1016/0028-2243(89)90025-7.
In a prospective study in 227 parturients, carriership of group B streptococci was established to be 25%. In carriers, transmission of streptococci to the newborn occurred in 50%. 10 ml of a chlorhexidine gel containing hydroxypropylmethylcellulose was introduced into the vagina during labor in 17 parturients, who were known to be carriers of group B streptococci from the first trimester of pregnancy. In none of the newborns from these mothers colonization by group B streptococci did occur. Vaginal application of chlorhexidine may prevent transmission of group B streptococci, and serve as an alternative to intrapartum prophylaxis using antibiotics. A large multicenter randomized controlled study should be performed to confirm this hypothesis.
