Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus) bloodstream infections in adults and children 1 month or older

Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC), 2023

For adults and children 1 month or older with Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus) sepsis or septic shock, or meningitis, use:

For adults and children with S. agalactiae (group B streptococcus) bacteraemia not associated with sepsis or septic shock, or meningitis, use:

For patients who report penicillin hypersensitivity, verify their allergy. In some patients it may be appropriate to directly delabel their allergy by taking an extensive allergy history (see Clinical history for initial assessment of patients reporting penicillin hypersensitivity). In patients whose penicillin allergy has been delabeled, benzylpenicillin should be used. In patients who cannot delabeled, seek expert advice.

For duration of therapy in adults and children 1 month or older, refer to the recommendations for the source of infection; for bacteraemia where the source of infection is meningitis, see Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus) meningitis. If the source of infection is not apparent, seek expert advice.