From Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE,
Your Guide to Pregnancy & Childbirth.
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Group B Strep, also known as Beta Strep or GBS is a bacteria that can live within humans. About 25% of women are carriers of this bacteria and don't even know it. They don't have any feelings of illness and are not sick. It is not a sexually transmitted disease, so you don't have to worry about your husband or partner getting it. The risk to your baby comes at birth.

Effects on the Baby

98-99% of all babies born to infected mothers will not become infected, if treated. Of those who become infected few will have any problems with the treatment for the infection. There are two types of infections: early and late.

Early infections tend to occur usually within the first six hours after birth, and most by the seventh day of life. This infection can cause inflammation of the baby's lungs, spinal cord or brain. About 15% of these babies will die from the infection.

The other infection, late infection, occur after the first seven days of life. Half of these late infections are not from the mother but from other sources of infection, such as contact with other carriers of GBS, including hospital personnel. Meningitis is the main risk from late infection, which has long term problems associated with the baby's nervous system. However, babies with late infections are less likely to die than those with early infections.

Risk Factors & Testing

During birth as the baby passes through the vagina it comes into contact with the bacteria, making it more likley for the baby to get Group B Strep. To prevent this from happening women who test positive or who have had a previous baby with Group B Strep will be given IV antibiotics during labor. If you were not test at the end of your pregnancy and you go into labor you will be treated if you have any of the following symptoms of a Group B Strep infection:

• Water is broken greater than 18 hours
• You run a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher
• You are in labor prior to 37 weeks

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines are summarized as follows:

• Every woman should be tested between weeks 35-37 of gestation with a simple vaginal and rectal swab.
• If she tests positive she should be treated with antibiotics in labor.
• If a woman has tested negative within five weeks of labor, she does not need to be treated in labor, even if she develops risk factors.
• If a woman has an unknown GBS status in labor, she should only be treated if she develops risk factors.
• A woman should be treated in labor if she has ever had a previous baby born with GBS or if she has tested positive at any time during her current pregnancy.

Common Questions about GBS

How did I get it?

GBS is a naturally occurring bacterium in the body of both men and women.

Can I still breast-feed if I have GBS?

Yes you can. A colonized mother will not pass the bacteria on to her child.

Is there a vaccine?

Not yet, although they are working on it. So, someday there may be a vaccine. The Federal Government is currently funding some studies.

Would a cesarean prevent transmission to the baby?

No. There is not even a need to treat with antibiotics unless your water has broken in this case, or unless you need antibiotics for another reason. There have even been documented cases of babies born by cesarean who have developed infection through the amniotic sac, which was not ruptured until the surgery under way and birth occurred within seconds of rupture.