Group B streptococcus, also known as Group B strep or Baby Strep, is a common bacterial infection found in the vagina, rectum and lower intestine of many healthy women. Although the chances of a pregnant mother passing GBS to her baby during delivery is minimal, the outcome can be severe without proper testing and treatment. For this reason, GBS testing is a routine part of prenatal care.
Background
AmericanPregnancy.org says that between 15 percent and 40 percent of all healthy women carry Group B strep and are symptom-free. It's not a sexually transmitted bacterium, nor can it spread by eating or drinking. Some women carry GBS for a short period, some for intermittent periods, and others forever. Approximately 1 in 2,000 U.S.-born babies gets GBS, which can occur during vaginal delivery if the baby is exposed to or swallows fluids with Group B strep.
Testing
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a Group B strep screening during the third trimester of pregnancy, usually between Weeks 35 and 37. The test involves a simple vaginal and rectal swab be cultured and sent to a lab. A positive result indicates the potential for infecting the baby is possible, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Post-delivery testing of a baby suspected of having GBS involves a blood or spinal fluid test. Expect one to two days for all test results, as Group B strep is only diagnosed when the bacteria grow on the cultures.
Increased Infant Risk
Although most babies never become ill despite having mothers who are GBS carriers, there are symptoms that can indicate a woman is at higher risk to deliver a baby with Group B strep. A woman who goes into labor or whose water breaks before 37 weeks, or whose water breaks more than 18 hours before delivery, is at increased risk. Those with a fever and/or a GBS-related urinary tract infection during delivery also pose a greater risk to their unborn child. A prior history of GBS during delivery or of GBS transmission to a baby is also a high risk factor. The Mayo Clinic says that carrying a baby with a sustained rapid heartbeat during labor, and carrying multiples, can also increase the risk for GBS transmission during delivery.
Antibiotic Treatment
Antibiotics can effectively treat Group B strep infection in pregnant women. Most obstetricians give women diagnosed during their third trimester a course of oral antibiotics such as penicillin or cephalexin. Infants who test positive for GBS are given intravenous antibiotics, according to American Pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says GBS carriers with no risk factors have a 1-in-4,000 chance of transmission following an antibiotics course.
GBS Newborn Symptoms
The few babies infected by Group B strep during labor usually experience the condition in one of two forms: early and late onset.
Early-onset GBS usually occurs during the first 12 hours of life. Complications can be life-threatening; they include pneumonia, meningitis and bloodstream infection. Early symptoms include fever, difficulty feeding and lethargy.
Late-onset Group B strep disease is less fatal and less common, according to the American Pregnancy website. It usually begins within a week to a few months after birth. These infants can develop a fever, upper respiratory tract infection, and even seizures. Fever and lethargy are also common with late-onset GBS.
Pregnancy Complications in Adults
GBS can cause a handful of conditions considered symptoms during pregnancy, according to American Pregnancy. They include urinary tract infection, placental and amniotic fluid infection known as chorioamnionitis, an infection of the uterine lining known as endometritis, and infection of the bloodstream known as sepsis.
