Group-B B streptococcus, often abbreviated to GBS, is a bacterial infection in the bladder, bowel, throat, rectum or vagina. Carried by ten to thirty percent of all women, it is frequently asymptomatic, and causes few problems in adults.
Group-B B streptococcus infections can cause serious fetal problems and is the leading cause of life-threatening infections in newborn babies, including meningitis, pneumonia and blood infections.
Other complications include developmental problems, such as hearing or vision loss, lung or kidney damage, or cerebral palsy. Group-B streptococcus infection should not be confused with Group-A streptococcus infection which is responsible for strep-throat, scarlet fever and some pneumonias.
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For many women with a Group-B B streptococcus infection there are no symptoms. For others there may be a vaginal discharge. Up to thirty percent of all women have Group-B B streptococcus. Because of the risks to your baby from an infected mother, if your doctor suspects that you may be at high risk of having a GBS infection you will be screened.
Risk factors for a Group-B B streptococcus infection include a previous child born with a GBS infection, a raised temperature of 100.4 degrees F (38° C) during labor or delivery, premature labor or ruptured membranes with no sign of labor for eighteen or more hours.
Some doctors feel that a sample from the rectal and vaginal areas of all women should be cultured and screened for Group-B B streptococcus infection between week thirty five and week thirty seven.
Group-B B streptococcus is frequently transmitted through sexual contact. Found predominantly in the vagina, rectum, urinary and reproductive organs or digestive tracts, Group-B B streptococcus is caught when the body's immune system and resistance to infection is lowered. Since the infection is frequently asymptomatic, it is impossible to avoid the infection by limiting exposure to infected persons.
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A Group-B B streptococcus infection during pregnancy may cause infections in the bladder and uterus. The infection is most dangerous during labor and delivery when it may pass to the baby. Although the Group-B B streptococcus infection provides few problems in adults, a newborn with the infection can face many life-threatening problems. About 0.34% (1 in 300) babies with GBS develop severe pneumonia or meningitis. Approximately half of these babies are premature and at the greatest risk of developing complications: the incidence among premature babies is 0.67% (1 in 150). Other serious problems include lung or kidney damage, loss of hearing or sight, cerebral palsy or other developmental palsy.
If your doctor suspects that you may be at high risk for Group-B B streptococcus infection a screening test will be administered. The test is performed between week thirty five and week thirty seven, the period when it is most accurate. If a GBS infection is confirmed, transmission to your baby will be prevented by administering Ampicillin intravenously during delivery.
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