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Prevent Group B Strep(GBS) icon

Prevent Group B Strep(GBS)

Published in academic literature

For:Clinicians & Healthcare Professionals

App Summary

The Prevent Group B Strep (GBS) app is a point-of-care clinical decision support tool that guides obstetric providers through complex protocols to prevent neonatal GBS disease. The associated research describes how the app translates comprehensive CDC and ACOG guidelines on universal screening and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis into a simplified, interactive interface. The authors conclude the tool aims to reduce medical errors by providing clinicians with rapid, scenario-specific guidance in high-pressure delivery environments.

App Screenshots

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Detailed Description

Functionality & Mechanism

Developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and endorsed by major professional bodies, this clinical decision support tool synthesizes complex GBS prevention guidelines into an interactive, point-of-care workflow. The interface captures patient- and scenario-specific data through a sequence of up to 12 questions. Based on these inputs, the system delivers customized, evidence-based management recommendations, including the necessity of intrapartum antimicrobial prophylaxis and optimal antibiotic regimens for penicillin-allergic patients.

Evidence & Research Context

  • The app's design is detailed in associated research, which describes its development as a tool to improve the implementation of intricate national guidelines for GBS prevention.
  • Its logic and recommendations are explicitly grounded in clinical protocols and Committee Opinions from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
  • The platform translates multi-page guideline documents into a streamlined digital format to facilitate rapid decision-making in high-pressure clinical environments.
  • Key functionalities, such as guidance on universal screening timing and antibiotic selection, directly align with evidence-based standards aimed at reducing neonatal GBS disease.

Intended Use & Scope

This application is intended for obstetric and pediatric clinicians, including physicians, nurse-midwives, and pediatricians, as a point-of-care reference tool. Its primary utility is providing rapid, standardized guidance on GBS prophylaxis. The tool is designed to augment, not replace, independent clinical judgment, and complex cases may warrant further consultation or adherence to local institutional protocols.

Studies & Publications

3 publications

Peer-reviewed research associated with this app.

Development/Design Paper

Prevent Group B Strep App for Obstetric Providers

Centers et al. (2025) · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Describes the research-driven development of this app
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) remains a leading cause of early-onset neonatal sepsis in the United States despite decades of prevention efforts. To improve the consistency and implementation of complex, evidence-based guidelines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed the "Prevent Group B Strep" (GBS) application—a point-of-care clinical decision support tool. Developed in collaboration with and endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and other professional bodies, the app translates intricate 36-page clinical protocols and flowcharts into a simplified, interactive interface. Providers input specific patient- and scenario-specific data (responding to a maximum of 12 questions) to receive customized management recommendations. Key functionalities include determining the necessity of intrapartum antimicrobial prophylaxis and identifying appropriate antibiotic regimens, particularly for penicillin-allergic patients. Current versions of the app have been updated to reflect ACOG's 2019/2020 Committee Opinions, ensuring alignment with the latest medical standards, such as the shift to universal screening at 36 0/7 to 37 6/7 weeks of gestation. Available as a free mobile app for iOS and Android, as well as a web-based tool, the platform aims to reduce medical errors and prevent neonatal GBS disease by providing clinicians with rapid, evidence-based guidance in high-pressure delivery environments.
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Non-Evaluative Reference

Smartphone Application Available for Preventing Group B Streptococcus Infections

Centers et al. (2022) · Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Referenced in academic literature; no direct evaluation of the app
The Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library offers a diverse and extensive library collection that includes material in all areas of public health and disease and injury prevention, as well as other subjects including leadership, management, and economics. The collection can be accessed through any of the physical library locations or virtually through the intranet. As of FY11, CDC's collection includes more than 97,000 unique titles in print or electronic form.
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In the Media

Prevent Group B Strep App for Obstetric Providers

The CDC developed Prevent Group B Strep(GBS) to provide obstetric care providers with patient- and scenario-specific guidance for preventing Group B strep infections in newborns, using guidance consistent with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 2019 Committee Opinion. The app was developed in collaboration with and endorsed by experts in obstetric care and does not request, collect, or store any personal identifying information. The web-based tool requires an internet connection and is designed specifically for obstetric care providers to help prevent serious illness in newborns caused by Group B strep bacteria.

CdcRead article

ACOG, AAP Update Guidance on Group B Strep in Infants

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated their guidance on preventing Group B Strep transmission from mothers to infants, recommending universal maternal screening and targeted antibiotic prophylaxis. Since GBS prevention recommendations were first introduced in 1990, the national incidence of early-onset GBS disease has declined dramatically from 1.8 cases per 1,000 live births to 0.23 cases per 1,000 live births in 2015. The updated guidelines specify that all pregnant women should undergo antepartum screening at 36-0/7 to 37-6/7 weeks of gestation, providing a five-week window for valid culture results.

AafpRead article

CDC app helps prevent group B strep

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed the "Prevent GBS" app to help prevent group B strep, using guidance consistent with 2010 prevention guidelines. The app was developed with and endorsed by major medical organizations including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Nurse-Midwives, and American Academy of Family Physicians. Providers select either obstetric or neonatal portals and answer patient questions to receive specific guidance and antibiotic regimen recommendations.

NwhjournalRead article

Prevent Group B Strep(GBS)

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