Group B streptococcal (GBS) disease is a bacterial infection. These bacteria live in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts and are found in the vaginal or rectal areas of 10% to 35% of all healthy adult women.
GBS can cause illness in newborn babies, pregnant women, the elderly, and adults with other chronic medical conditions, such as
or liver disease. In newborns, it is the most common cause of
(blood infection) and
(infection of the fluid and lining surrounding the brain).
This following information covers GBS in pregnant women and their babies.
GBS is caused by the bacteria
. Only a small number of babies who are exposed to the bacteria will become infected. If infection occurs, it can be serious. Newborn babies can become infected with GBS in three ways:
Vaginal Bacteria Spreading to Fetus
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A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. Factors that increase the risk of a baby contracting GBS include the following:
In pregnant women, GBS infections can sometimes cause endometritis, amnionitis, and septic abortion (loss of pregnancy due to infection). Doctors are especially concerned about how GBS infections affect young infants. Two forms of infection occur in newborns: early-onset and late-onset.
Early-onset GBS disease usually causes illness within the first 24 hours of life. However, illness can occur up to 6 days after birth. Late-onset disease usually occurs at 3 to 4 weeks of age. It can occur any time from 7 days to 3 months of age.
Symptoms of both kinds of GBS include:
GBS can be diagnosed in a pregnant woman at an Ob/Gyn office visit. Testing for GBS should be done about one month before the baby is due. The doctor swabs the vagina and rectum and sends this sample to a laboratory to test for GBS. Test results are available in 24-48 hours. Treatment usually does not begin until delivery.
If you test positive for GBS or are at high risk, your doctor may recommend giving you antibiotics through an IV during labor and delivery to prevent your baby from getting sick after birth. Penicillin or ampicillin are usually used. If you have an allergy to those drugs, other medicines may be used, such as clindamycin or erythromycin.
It is generally not recommended that women take antibiotics before labor to prevent GBS (unless GBS is identified in the urine). Studies have shown that it is not as effective at preventing illness if given before labor has begun.
If the doctor suspects strep B infection, a newborn might be kept in the hospital a couple of extra days for close watching (observation). If the baby is diagnosed with GBS, he or she will be treated with intravenous antibiotics for 10 days. Even with screening and antibiotic treatment, some babies can still get GBS disease. Seek medical care immediately if your baby has any of the symptoms of GBS infection.
Methods to prevent GBS include:
A vaccine is being developed, but is not currently available.
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologistshttp://www.acog.org/
Group B Strep Associationhttp://www.groupbstrep.org/
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canadahttp://www.sogc.org/index_e.asp
Women's Health Mattershttp://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/
American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at:
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website. Available at:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at:
. Accessed November 19, 2009.
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Provisional Recommendations for the Prevention of Perinatal Group B Streptococcal Disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at:
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