Final Recommendation Statement: Screening for Bacterial Vaginosis in Pregnant Persons to Prevent Preterm Delivery

Final Recommendation Statement: Screening for Bacterial Vaginosis to Prevent Preterm Delivery

Final Recommendation Statement: Screening for Bacterial Vaginosis in Pregnant Persons to Prevent Preterm Delivery The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released today a final recommendation statement on screening for bacterial vaginosis in pregnant persons to prevent preterm delivery. The Task Force recommends against screening pregnant people who are not at increased risk for preterm delivery. More research is needed on screening those who are at increased risk. To view the recommendation, the evidence on which it is based, and a summary for clinicians, please go here. The final recommendation statement can also be found in the April 7, 2020 online issue of JAMA. The Final Recommendation Statement Is Available

FINAL RECOMMENDATION SUMMARY See the full statement

Population Recommendation Grade Pregnant persons not at increased risk for preterm delivery The USPSTF recommends against screening for bacterial vaginosis (BV) in pregnant persons who are not at increased risk for preterm delivery. D Pregnant persons at increased risk for preterm delivery The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for BV in pregnant persons who are at increased risk for preterm delivery. I

WHY THIS MATTERS

"We looked at whether BV screening can help prevent preterm deliveries so that more babies are born healthy,” says Task Force member Chien-Wen Tseng, M.D., M.P.H., M.S.E.E. “We do not recommend BV screening in pregnant people who are not at increased risk for delivering their babies early because the evidence shows it does not prevent preterm delivery.” “The evidence is not clear about whether screening for BV prevents preterm delivery in pregnant people at increased risk for delivering their babies too early,” says Task Force member Melissa A. Simon, M.D., M.P.H. “Preterm delivery can cause serious problems for newborns and their families, so more research is needed in this population.”

WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS

Draft Research Plan Final Research Plan Draft Recommendation / Draft Evidence Review  Final Recommendation / Evidence Summary