Question

A nurse is providing prenatal care to a pregnancy client. At which time would the nurse expect to screen the client for group B streptococcus infection?

a) 28 weeks of gestation
b) 12 weeks of gestation
c) 36 weeks of gestation
d) 24 weeks of gestation

Answer 1

A nurse would screen for group B streptococcus at 36 weeks of gestation to minimize the risk of neonatal infections by administering intravenous antibiotics during labor if needed.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse would expect to screen the client for group B streptococcus infection at 36 weeks of gestation. Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a gram-positive bacterium found in the urogenital and gastrointestinal microbiota of about 10-30% of humans and is a major cause of neonatal infection including meningitis. Screening at this time allows for the administration of intravenous antibiotics during labor if GBS is present, thereby reducing the incidence of early onset neonatal infections. As the fetus develops and the pregnancy progresses, the risk for infections that can impact the health of both the mother and infant increases, hence the importance of timely screening for pathogens like GBS.