Among the many tests administered to pregnant women prior to labor and delivery is a simple culture that looks for group B strep. Many women – as many as 1 in 4 – will test positive but only a fraction of their babies will become sick as a result of exposure. Still, those who do can become seriously ill, making the test and therapy a critical step in any pregnancy.
During the month of July, designated International Group B Strep Awareness Month, doctors and specialists continue to get the word out about this bacterium, the risks during pregnancy, and what to watch for after birth.
Group B versus Group A Streptococcus
You are probably familiar with group A strep, the bacteria that cause strep throat. Usually spread through coughs, sneezes, or shared drinks, group A strep occurs in the nose and mouth and is characterized by a sore throat, fever, headache, and sometimes vomiting. Antibiotics treat the infection and prevent complications, including scarlet fever and inflammation of the heart and blood vessels.
Unlike group A, group B strep occurs in the vagina, intestine, and rectum and typically causes no symptoms. It is unclear how it is contracted, and presence of the bacteria comes and goes, so someone who has a negative test could test positive just a few months later and vice versa. Because babies are especially vulnerable during delivery, it’s important that mothers be tested late in their term and of every pregnancy.
GBS Disease
Illness caused by group B strep are identified as early-onset infections, in which babies will usually have symptoms within 24 hours of birth, and late-onset infections, which may manifest weeks or even months after birth. While reasons for this variation is not clear, symptoms and complications are. Babies who contract GBS disease at any time may develop pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis and can experience long-term complications, including vision and hearing loss and learning disabilities.
Symptoms that may indicate an infection include:
- High-pitched crying or moaning
- Extreme skin sensitivity
- Lethargy or listlessness
- Extreme fatigue or difficulty waking your baby for a feeding
- Abnormally low body temperature
- Unexplained fever
Preventing GBS
Knowledge is the key in preventing illness from exposure to group B strep. That’s why doctors now test every woman at about the 36th week of every pregnancy to check for group B strep bacteria. Usually a urine sample, a vaginal swab, or both are enough to determine if there are any bacteria present. Women who test positive receive IV antibiotics at the start of labor to kill the bacteria. If labor is too short – less than four hours – the baby may receive additional antibiotics immediately after birth.
Group B Strep is a normal occurrence in both men and women, but infections in babies are preventable. If you have questions about group B strep or any potential risk to your unborn child, contact our doctors or schedule an appointment to discuss how you can protect your baby.