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What is group B strep? — Group B strep, or "GBS," is short for "group B streptococcus." It is a type of bacteria that can cause infection. In most healthy adults, GBS is harmless. But in pregnant people and their babies, a GBS infection can be serious:
●In the pregnant person, GBS can cause infections of the amniotic fluid or uterus. It can also cause early or "preterm" birth.
●In the newborn, GBS can cause serious infections in the lungs, blood, brain and spinal cord, bones and joints, skin, and soft tissues.
This article is about GBS infection in pregnant people.
What are the symptoms of GBS infection during pregnancy? — GBS infection often causes no symptoms. When it does cause symptoms, they depend on the organs involved. Common types of GBS infection include:
●Bladder infection – Symptoms include:
•Pain or a burning feeling when you urinate
•Needing to urinate often
•Needing to urinate suddenly or in a hurry
•Blood in the urine
●Kidney infection – The symptoms of a kidney infection can include the symptoms of a bladder infection. They can also include fever, back pain, nausea, and vomiting.
●Amniotic infection – This is also called "intra-amniotic infection." Symptoms include:
•Fever
•Tenderness in the lower part of the belly, where the uterus is found
•Fast heart rate in the mother or the fetus (developing baby)
Is there a test for GBS? — Yes. Doctors can take samples of different body fluids and then check whether any GBS bacteria grow in those samples over time. This is called doing a "culture."
●Most doctors recommend that everyone have a "urine culture" early in pregnancy. This will show if there is GBS in your urine. If you test positive for GBS, you will get antibiotics to treat the bacteria.
●Experts also recommend that pregnant people have GBS cultures done on samples from the vagina and rectum. This should happen between about 36 and 38 weeks of pregnancy. This helps the doctor or nurse know who should get antibiotics for GBS during labor.
How is GBS treated? — Treatment of GBS involves getting an antibiotic. This can be with a pill or through a thin tube that goes into a vein, called an "IV." Pregnant people who had a culture from the urine, vagina, or rectum that was positive for GBS are treated with an antibiotic through an IV during labor. This protects both the mother and baby from having problems caused by GBS.
If you are treated for GBS during labor, your and the baby's health care team should watch the baby for signs of infection after birth. In a baby, signs of infection include fever or low temperature, poor feeding, trouble breathing, being irritable, and being very sleepy.
If your baby's doctor thinks that your baby has an infection, they might order blood tests, X-rays, or other tests. Babies who develop GBS infection are treated with antibiotics through an IV for at least 10 days.
When should I call the doctor? — Call your doctor or nurse right away if you are pregnant and have any signs of infection, such as the symptoms listed above.
Patient education: Group B strep screening (The Basics)
Patient education: Avoiding infections in pregnancy (The Basics)
Patient education: Urinary tract infections in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Group B streptococcus and pregnancy (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Avoiding infections in pregnancy (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Urinary tract infections in adolescents and adults (Beyond the Basics)
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