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Abstract

The recommendations reported below have been the matter of a consensus within the working group, they are based on the evidence available, on data from the literature and on the most recent results of epidemiologic investigations. Needless to say, they are likely to be affected by any change that may occur in the state of knowledge. The main goal of these recommendations is to arrive at a decrease in the incidence of early-onset group B streptococcal infections in neonates. The secondary objectives are to standardize the preventive strategies for the management of pregnant women, to optimize laboratory techniques for detecting GBS and to suggest an updated algorithm for the management of newborns.