Final answer:
The nurse should screen a pregnant woman for group B streptococcus infection at 36 weeks' gestation to reduce the risk of neonatal meningitis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse should screen a pregnant woman for group B streptococcus infection at 36 weeks' gestation.
Group B streptococcus (GBS) is the most common cause of neonatal meningitis, which can occur in babies up to 3 months of age. To reduce the risk of early onset neonatal meningitis, intravenous antibiotics are given to the mother during labor. However, late-onset neonatal meningitis can still occur, and infants born to mothers with GBS in the urogenital tract have a higher risk. Therefore, screening for GBS is typically done at 36 weeks' gestation to determine whether intrapartum antibiotics are necessary.