Amniotic Sac: Fluid-filled sac in a woman’s uterus. The fetus develops in this sac. Show Antibiotics: Drugs that treat certain types of infections. Bacteria: One-celled organisms that can cause infections in the human body. Cesarean Birth: Birth of a fetus from the uterus through an incision (cut) made in the woman’s abdomen. Fetus: The stage of human development beyond 8 completed weeks after fertilization. Group B Streptococcus (GBS): A type of bacteria that many people carry normally and can be passed to the fetus at the time of delivery. GBS can cause serious infection in some newborns. Antibiotics are given to women who carry the bacteria during labor to prevent newborn infection. Intravenous (IV) Line: A tube inserted into a vein and used to deliver medication or fluids. Meningitis: Inflammation of the covering of the brain or spinal cord. Pneumonia: An infection of the lungs. Prenatal Care: A program of care for a pregnant woman before the birth of her baby. Rectum: The last part of the digestive tract. Sepsis: A condition in which infectious toxins (usually from bacteria) are in the blood. It is a serious condition that can be life threatening. Symptoms include fever, rapid heart rate, breathing difficulty, and mental confusion. Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI): An infection that is spread by sexual contact. Infections include chlamydia, gonorrhea, human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes, syphilis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]). Vagina: A tube-like structure surrounded by muscles. The vagina leads from the uterus to the outside of the body.
Group B Streptococcus (group B strep, GBS) is a type of often found in the urinary tract, digestive system, and reproductive tracts. The bacteria come and go from our bodies, so most people who have it don't know that they do. GBS usually doesn't cause health problems. What Problems Can Group B Strep Cause?Health problems from GBS are not common. But it can cause illness in some people, such as the elderly and those with some medical conditions. GBS can cause infections in such areas of the body as the blood, lungs, skin, or bones. About 1 out of every 4 women have GBS. In pregnant women, GBS can cause infection of the urinary tract, placenta, womb, and amniotic fluid. Even if they haven't had any symptoms of infection, pregnant women can pass the infection to their babies during labor and delivery. How Does Group B Strep Affect Babies?When women with GBS are treated with antibiotics during labor, most of their babies do not have any problems. But some babies can become very sick from GBS. Premature babies are more likely to be infected with GBS than full-term babies because their bodies and immune systems are less developed. The two types of GBS disease in babies are:
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of GBS Disease?Newborns and infants with GBS disease might show these signs:
Babies with GBS disease can develop serious problems, such as:
How Is Group B Strep Diagnosed?Pregnant women are routinely tested for GBS late in the pregnancy, usually between weeks 35 and 37. The test is simple, inexpensive, and painless. Called a culture, it involves using a large cotton swab to collect samples from the vagina and rectum. These samples are tested in a lab to check for GBS. The results are usually available in 1 to 3 days. If a test finds GBS, the woman is said to be "GBS-positive." This means only that she has the bacteria in her body — not that she or her baby will become sick from it. GBS infection in babies is diagnosed by testing a sample of blood or spinal fluid. But not all babies born to GBS-positive mothers need testing. Most healthy babies are simply watched to see if they have signs of infection. How Is Group B Strep Treated?Doctors will test a pregnant woman to see if she has GBS. If she does, she will get intravenous (IV) antibiotics during labor to kill the bacteria. Doctors usually use penicillin, but can give other medicines if a woman is allergic to it. It's best for a woman to get antibiotics for at least 4 hours before delivery. This simple step greatly helps to prevent the spread of GBS to the baby. Doctors also might give antibiotics during labor to a pregnant woman if she:
Giving antibiotics during labor helps to prevent early-onset GBS disease only. The cause of late-onset disease isn't known, so no method has yet been found to prevent it. Researchers are working to develop a vaccine to prevent GBS infection. Babies who get GBS disease are treated with antibiotics. These are started as soon as possible to help prevent problems. These babies also may need other treatments, like breathing help and IV fluids. How Can I Help Prevent Group B Strep Infection?Because GBS comes and goes from the body, a woman should be tested for it during each pregnancy. Women who are GBS-positive and get antibiotics at the right time during labor do well, and most don't pass the infection to their babies. If you are GBS-positive and begin to go into labor, go to the hospital rather than laboring at home. By getting IV antibiotics for at least 4 hours before delivery, you can help protect your baby against early-onset GBS disease.
Group B streptococcus, or group B strep for short, is a common kind of bacteria (germ). It can live in the intestine, the rectum, or a woman’s vagina. Group B strep doesn’t usually cause problems in healthy adults. Most of the people who get sick from group B strep are newborns who are exposed to the bacteria during birth. About 25% of healthy pregnant women have group B strep in their bodies. A woman who has group B strep is said to be “colonized” with this germ. If you are colonized with group B strep, your baby can become infected with these germs while being born and can get sick. There is less than a 1% chance that this will happen. But because group B strep infection is so dangerous for babies, it’s important to find out if you’re colonized while you’re pregnant.
Group B strep doesn’t usually cause symptoms in healthy adults. Babies who have group B strep may develop symptoms during their first week of life. This is called early-onset disease. Or they may develop symptoms from 1 week to 3 months of life. This is called late-onset disease. The symptoms of group B strep infection in newborns may include: If you notice these symptoms in your newborn, call your doctor right away.
The group B strep bacteria come and go naturally in people’s bodies. If a pregnant woman has the bacteria in her body, she can pass it to her baby during labor and delivery. A group B strep infection happens when a baby is exposed to the bacteria while it’s being born. The bacteria can cause the baby to get sick. The most common illnesses caused by the bacteria in newborns are: There are some factors that increase a pregnant woman’s risk of having a baby who develops group B strep disease. These include:
If you’re pregnant, your doctor can do a test to see if you are “group B strep positive.” This test usually is done when you are 35 to 37 weeks pregnant. To perform the test, your doctor will swab your vagina and your rectum and will send the swabs to a lab to see if the strep bacteria grow. If you have group B strep, it’s important to understand that you aren’t sick. Also, you probably will not make your baby sick. Knowing that you carry the bacteria just helps you and your doctor make decisions that can protect your baby from infection.
Pregnant women can’t avoid having group B strep in their bodies. But passing it along to their babies is preventable. The two ways to prevent your baby from getting an early-onset group B strep infection is to: Currently there is not a way to prevent your baby from getting late-onset group B strep disease.
If you test positive for group B strep or are at increased risk of having it, your doctor will give you antibiotics during labor. These will be given intravenously (through an IV) to kill the germs. Because the bacteria grow quickly, the antibiotics are only effective if they are given during labor. Penicillin is the most common antibiotic that doctors prescribe to treat group B strep. If you get antibiotics while you’re in labor, the chances are very good that your baby won’t get an early-onset group B strep infection. If your baby gets group B strep, he or she will be treated with IV antibiotics to kill the bacteria. Your baby will stay in the hospital until your doctor is sure your baby is better.
In healthy adults, group B strep doesn’t usually cause any problems. Certain groups are more likely to have complications from group B strep:
 Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. |
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