Early-onset group B streptococcal (EOGBS) disease (including sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia) causes significant morbidity and mortality in newborn infants worldwide. Antibiotic prophylaxis can prevent vertical streptococcal transmission, yet no uniform criteria exist to identify eligible women for prophylaxis. Some guidelines recommend universal GBS screening to pregnant women in their third trimester (screening-based protocol), whereas others employ risk-based protocols.
To compare the effectiveness of screening-based versus risk-based protocols in preventing EOGBS disease.
Key words for the database searches included GBS, Streptococcus agalactiae, pregnancy, screening, culture-based, risk-based.
Studies were included if they investigated EOGBS disease incidence in newborn infants and compared screening or risk-based protocols with each other or with controls.
Risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined using Mantel-Haenszel analyses with random effects.
Seventeen eligible studies were included. In this meta-analysis, screening was associated with a reduced risk for EOGBS disease compared either with risk-based protocols (ten studies, RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.32-0.56) or with no policy (four studies, RR 0.31, 95% CI 0.11-0.84). Meta-analysis could not demonstrate a significant effect of risk-based protocols versus no policy (seven studies, RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.61-1.20). In studies reporting on the use of antibiotics, screening was not associated with higher antibiotic administration rates (31 versus 29%).
Screening-based protocols were associated with lower incidences of EOGBS disease compared with risk-based protocols, while not clearly overexposing women to antibiotics. This information is of relevance for future policymaking.
Meta-analysis: general screening is associated with lower rates of early-onset group B strep. neonatal sepsis compared with risk-based protocols.

Although burnout levels and the corresponding risk factors have been studied in many nursing services, to date no meta-analytical studies have been undertaken of obstetrics and gynecology units to examine the heterogeneity of burnout in this environment and the variables associated with it. In the present paper, we aim to determine the prevalence, levels, and related factors of burnout syndrome among nurses working in gynecology and obstetrics services.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature were carried out using the following sources: CINAHL (Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature), LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature), Medline, ProQuest (Proquest Health and Medical Complete), SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online), and Scopus.
Fourteen relevant studies were identified, including, for this meta-analysis, n = 464 nurses. The following prevalence values were obtained: emotional exhaustion 29% (95% CI: 11-52%), depersonalization 19% (95% CI: 6-38%), and low personal accomplishment 44% (95% CI: 18-71%). The burnout variables considered were sociodemographic (age, marital status, number of children, gender), work-related (duration of the workday, nurse-patient ratio, experience or number of miscarriages/abortions), and psychological (anxiety, stress, and verbal violence).
Nurses working in obstetrics and gynecology units present high levels of burnout syndrome. In over 33% of the study sample, at least two of the burnout dimensions considered are apparent.

To report on women\'s and families\' expectations and experiences of hospital postnatal care, and also to reflect on women\'s satisfaction with hospital postnatal care and to relate their expectations to their actual care experiences.
Systematic review.
UK.
Postnatal women.
Women\'s and families\' expectations, experiences and satisfaction with hospital postnatal care.
Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL Plus), Science Citation Index, and Social Sciences Citation Index were searched to identify relevant studies published since 1970. We incorporated findings from qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods studies. Eligible studies were independently screened and quality-assessed using a modified version of the National Institutes of Health Quality Assessment Tool for quantitative studies and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme for qualitative studies. Data were extracted on participants\' characteristics, study period, setting, study objective and study specified outcomes, in addition to the summary of results.
Data were included from 53 studies, of which 28 were quantitative, 19 were qualitative and 6 were mixed-methods studies. The methodological quality of the included studies was mixed, and only three were completely free from bias. Women were generally satisfied with their hospital postnatal care but were critical of staff interaction, the ward environment and infant feeding support. Ethnic minority women were more critical of hospital postnatal care than white women. Although duration of postnatal stay has declined over time, women were generally happy with this aspect of their care. There was limited evidence regarding women\'s expectations of postnatal care, families\' experience and social disadvantage.
Women were generally positive about their experiences of hospital postnatal care, but improvements could still be made. Individualised, flexible models of postnatal care should be evaluated and implemented.
CRD42017057913.

There is a growing body of evidence to indicate that both primary and subsequent caesarean sections are associated with increased maternal and perinatal morbidity. Efforts to reduce the number of clinically unnecessary caesarean sections are urgently required. Our objective is to systematically review published evidence on the effectiveness of maternity service organisational interventions, such as models of maternity care, that aim to reduce caesarean section rates.
Databases will be searched, including the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, MEDLINE, Maternity and Infant Care, EMBASE and SCOPUS. Search terms related to caesarean section and organisational intervention will be used. Research published before 1980 will be excluded and only randomised controlled trials, cluster-randomised controlled trials, quasi-randomised controlled trials, controlled before and after studies and interrupted time series studies will be included. Data extraction and quality assessments will be undertaken by two authors.
Ethics approval is not required for this systematic review. The results of this study will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publication and presentation at professional conferences.
CRD42016039458.

To address an increase in unexpected poor outcomes in term neonates, our team developed a goal of high reliability and improved fetal safety in the culture of the Labor and Delivery nursing department. We implemented interdisciplinary reviews of fetal heart rate, along with a Category II fetal heart rate management algorithm and a fetal heart rate assessment rapid response alert to call for unscheduled reviews when needed. Enhanced communication between nurses and other clinicians supported an interdisciplinary approach to fetal safety, and we observed an improvement in health outcomes for term neonates. We share our experience with the intention of making our methods available to any labor and delivery unit team committed to safe, high-quality care and service excellence.

Maternal death audits are crucial to the reduction of maternal deaths. The aim of this study was to identity factors contributing to maternal deaths at Eastern Regional Hospital of Ghana. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used. Quantitative data on all the maternal deaths from January to December 2012 was extracted from completed audit forms and patients records using a standardized questionnaire. The data were analyzed in Epi-info. Qualitative data was collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with health staff to assess care received and factors leading to death. A total of 43 maternal deaths occurred out of which 37 (86%) were audited. Major causes of deaths were pregnancy induced hypertension (27%) and abortion (21%). Late referrals, poor supervision of junior staff, inadequate numbers of senior clinicians, lack of intensive care facility as well as unavailability and insufficient blood and blood products were the main contributory factors to the deaths. Tertiary health institutions should be adequately equipped, staffed, and funded to address these causes of maternal death.

BACKGROUND: There is little consensus regarding the hypothesised link between obstetric consultant presence and maternal and neonatal outcomes.
OBJECTIVE: To pool existing data on the impact of consultant presence on the outcomes of women who have given birth in UK National Health Service (NHS) maternity units.
METHODS: Twelve databases, grey literature, and reference lists were searched.
METHODS: Studies conducted in UK NHS maternity units comparing outcomes during lesser consultant presence versus increased consultant presence that reported mode of delivery and adverse maternal or neonatal outcomes.
METHODS: Studies were divided into three groups by type of comparison: (1) hours of rostered consultant presence during the weekend versus hours of rostered consultant presence during the week; (2) hours per week of rostered consultant presence pre-increase versus hours per week of rostered consultant presence post-increase; and (3) no rostered consultant presence versus rostered consultant presence. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed.
RESULTS: Fifteen studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria, presenting data from 125 856 births. Overall, there was no significant difference between lesser and increased consultant presence for any outcome. When data were stratified by comparison type, the likelihood of emergency caesarean section was significantly lower (odds ratio, OR 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI 0.86-0.96) and the likelihood of non-instrumental vaginal delivery was significantly higher (OR 1.07; 95% CI 1.02-1.12) when the rostered hours of consultant presence per week were increased.
CONCLUSIONS: Increased consultant presence has some effect on mode of delivery, but no evidence for a benefit for adverse outcomes was found.
CONCLUSIONS: Increasing hours of NHS obstetric consultant presence may increase chance of non-instrumental vaginal delivery.

BACKGROUND: Several key policy documents have advocated 24-hour consultant obstetrician presence on the labour ward as a means of improving the safety of birth. However, it is unclear what published evidence exists comparing the outcomes of intrapartum care with 24-hour consultant labour ward presence and other models of consultant cover.
OBJECTIVE: To collate and critically appraise evidence of the effect of continuous resident consultant obstetrician cover on the labour ward on outcomes of intrapartum care compared with other models of consultant cover.
METHODS: Studies were included which quantitatively compared intrapartum outcomes for women and babies where continuous resident consultant obstetric cover was provided with other models of consultant cover.
METHODS: Quantitative studies within healthcare systems with mixed obstetric-midwifery models of care.
METHODS: Two researchers independently screened titles and full-text publications, extracted data and assessed the quality of included studies. Meta-analysis was performed using REVIEW MANAGER 5.3.
RESULTS: About 1508 publications were screened resulting in two papers, three conference abstracts and one letter being included. All were single-site time-period comparison studies. The quality of studies overall was poor with significant risk of bias. The only significant finding in meta-analysis related to instrumental deliveries, which occurred more frequently when there was on-call consultant cover (unadjusted risk ratio 1.14; 95% CI 1.04-1.24).
CONCLUSIONS: No reliable evidence of the effects of 24-hour resident consultant presence on the labour ward on intrapartum outcomes was identified.
CONCLUSIONS: More robust research is needed to assess intrapartum outcomes with resident consultant labour ward presence.

Peer review serves as an important adjunct to other hospital quality and safety programs. Despite its importance, the available literature contains virtually no guidance regarding the structure and function of effective peer review committees. This Clinical Perspective provides a summary of the purposes, structure, and functioning of effective peer review committees. We also discuss important legal considerations that are a necessary component of such processes. This discussion includes useful templates for case selection and review. Proper committee structure, membership, work flow, and leadership as well as close cooperation with the hospital medical executive committee and legal representatives are essential to any effective peer review process. A thoughtful, fair, systematic, and organized approach to creating a peer review process will lead to confidence in the committee by providers, hospital leadership, and patients. If properly constructed, such committees may also assist in monitoring and enforcing compliance with departmental protocols, thus reducing harm and promoting high-quality practice.

BACKGROUND: Maternal death reviews and obstetric audits identify causes and circumstances related to occurrence of a maternal death or serious complication and inform improvements in quality of care. Given Nigeria\'s high maternal mortality, the lessons learned from past experiences can provide a good evidence base for informed decision making. We aimed to synthesise findings from maternal death reviews and other obstetric audits conducted in Nigeria through a systematic review, seeking to identify common barriers and enabling factors related to the provision of emergency obstetric care.
METHODS: We searched for maternal death reviews and obstetric care audits reported in the published literature from 2000-2014. A \'best-fit\' framework approach was used to extract data using a structured data extraction form. The articles that met the inclusion criteria were assessed using a nine point quality score.
RESULTS: Of the 1,841 abstracts and titles at initial screening, 329 full text articles were reviewed and 43 papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Four types of barriers were reported related to: transport and referral; health workers; availability of services; and organisational factors. Three elements stand out in Nigeria as contributing to maternal mortality: delays in Caesarean section, unavailability of magnesium sulphate and lack of safe blood transfusion services.
CONCLUSIONS: Obstetric care reviews and audits are useful activities to undertake and should be promoted by improving the processes used to conduct them, as well as extending their implementation to rural and basic level health facilities and to the community. Urgent areas for quality improvement in obstetric care, even in tertiary and teaching hospitals should focus on organisational factors to reduce delays in conducting Caesarean section and making blood and magnesium sulphate available for all who need these interventions.