Group B Strep Infection
Common bacteria that can pass to baby during delivery, prevented with antibiotics in labor.
Affects: 25% of pregnant women carry GBS bacteria
Overview
Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a common bacteria that about 25% of healthy women carry in their vagina or rectum. While harmless to adults, GBS can cause serious infections in newborns if passed during delivery.
All pregnant women are tested for GBS at 35-37 weeks. If positive, antibiotics are given during labor to prevent transmission. This reduces the baby's risk of infection by 80-90%.
Without treatment, babies can develop pneumonia, sepsis, or meningitis in the first week of life. With antibiotics during labor, GBS infections in newborns are rare.
🩺 Symptoms
- •Mother: Usually no symptoms (colonization, not infection)
- •Mother: May have UTI symptoms if GBS causes infection
- •Newborn (if infected): Difficulty breathing
- •Newborn: Fever or low temperature
- •Newborn: Difficulty feeding
- •Newborn: Lethargy
- •Newborn: Irritability
- •Newborn: Seizures (severe)
🔍 Causes
- →Common bacteria in vagina and rectum
- →Can come and go naturally
- →Not a sexually transmitted infection
- →Baby exposed during vaginal delivery
- →Bacteria can enter baby's lungs, blood, or spinal fluid
⚠️ Risk Factors
- •Mother positive for GBS
- •No antibiotics during labor when GBS positive
- •Preterm labor (before 37 weeks)
- •Water broken for more than 18 hours
- •Fever during labor
- •Previous baby with GBS infection
- •GBS in urine during pregnancy
🔬 Diagnosis
- →GBS screening test at 35-37 weeks (swab)
- →Culture takes 2-3 days
- →If GBS found in urine anytime, treated as positive
- →Previous baby with GBS infection - treated as positive
- →If unknown and risk factors present - antibiotics given
💊 Treatment
- ✓Antibiotics during labor (IV penicillin or ampicillin)
- ✓Given every 4 hours during labor
- ✓Need at least 4 hours of antibiotics before delivery for effectiveness
- ✓Alternative antibiotics if penicillin allergy
- ✓Newborn monitored closely for signs of infection
- ✓Baby may need antibiotics if high risk
🛡️ Prevention
- →Routine screening at 35-37 weeks
- →Antibiotics during labor if positive
- →Good hygiene
- →Cannot be prevented with diet or lifestyle
- →Not treated during pregnancy, only during labor
⚠️ Potential Complications
- !Newborn: Pneumonia
- !Sepsis (blood infection)
- !Meningitis (brain infection)
- !Death (rare with treatment)
- !Long-term neurological problems
- !Hearing or vision loss
- !Developmental delays
- !Mother: UTI, uterine infection, sepsis (rare)
🚨 When to Call Your Doctor
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience:
- ⚠If baby shows signs of infection after birth
- ⚠Fever during labor
- ⚠Water broken for many hours without labor
- ⚠Symptoms of UTI during pregnancy
- ⚠Preterm labor before screening done
Related Conditions
This information is for educational purposes and should not replace medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.