Group B Strep is the leading cause of neonatal septicaemia, pneumonia and meningitis in the UK.

In November 2015, this one-day conference brought together the leading UK experts to explain how group B Strep disease occurs and what can be done to prevent it. The conference report includes summaries of each of the presentations, including links to watch the sessions on YouTube, download the slides, and the transcripts. We only have a limited number of hard copies of this report.

  • Last updated August 2016
  • 24 pages
  • A4

You can also order a digital copy of this as a PDF free of charge

The day comprised:

  • Welcome and introduction – The Rt Hon Sir Nicholas Soames MP
  • Overview of neonatal Group B Streptococcal (GBS) disease – what it is and why it’s important – Dr Alison Bedford Russell, Consultant Neonatologist, Medical Director Birmingham Women’s NHSFT
  • The burden of invasive GBS disease in young infants in the UK & Republic of Ireland – Dr Catherine O’Sullivan, Research Fellow to Prof Paul Heath, Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, St George’s, University of London
  • Epidemiology of adult and infant GBS disease in England & Wales – Dr Theresa Lamagni, Senior Epidemiologist, Healthcare Associated Infection & Antimicrobial Resistance Department, Public Health England
  • GBS prevention strategies – UK & International (risk based, screening and vaccination) – Prof Philip Steer,  Emeritus professor of obstetrics at Imperial College, editor emeritus of BJOG
  • UK NSC GBS Screening policy and review – Prof Alan Cameron, Vice President Clinical Quality, Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists and Member of the UK National Screening Committee
  • RCOG recommendations / audit – Dr Andrew Thomson, Co-Chair, Guidelines Committee, Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists
  • Questions of the Morning Speakers – Chaired by Prof Neena Modi, President, Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health
  • Lunch, exhibition and networking
  • GBS screening & lab diagnostics in UK & continental Europe (standard, enhanced culture, molecular) – Prof Androulla Efstratiou, Director, WHO Global Collaborating Centre for Diphtheria & Streptococcal Infections, Visiting Professor Imperial College Faculty of Medicine
  • Introducing a GBS screening programme in a UK setting
    • Introduction: Dr G Gopal Rao OBE, Consultant Microbiologist, North West London Hospitals NHS Trust
    • Midwife experience:  Mrs Grace Nartey, Matron Midwife, North West London Hospitals NHS Trust
    • Neonatal unit experience: Dr Richard Nicholl, Consultant Neonatologist, North West London Hospitals NHS Trust
    • Impact on congenital pneumonia in neonates: Dr Reshmi Raychaudhuri, North West London Hospitals NHS Trust
    • Patient experience survey: Dr Fiona McQuaid, Clinical Research Fellow, North West London Hospitals NHS Trust
    • Overview: Dr G Gopal Rao OBE, Consultant Microbiologist, North West London Hospitals NHS Trust
  • The legal viewpoint – Mrs Alison Eddy, Head of Clinical Negligence London, Irwin Mitchell
  • Cost/benefit analyses – Prof Tracy Roberts, Professor of Health Economics and Head of Unit, Health Economics Unit, School of Health and Population Science, University of Birmingham
  • Panel discussion of controversies in GBS prevention – Overuse of antibiotics, Long term effects of antibiotics, Anaphylaxis and Antibiotic resistance – Dr Alison Bedford Russell, Prof Alan Cameron, Prof Neena Modi, Dr Catherine O’Sullivan, Dr Guduru Gopal Rao, Prof Philip Steer and Dr Andrew Thomson
  • Questions of the afternoon speakers – chaired by Prof Cathy Warwick, Chief Executive, Royal College of Midwives
  • Summing up and close – Prof Cathy Warwick, Chief Executive, Royal College of Midwives