Download Group B Streptococcus Infection in Pregnancy What is group B

Group B Streptococcus Infection in Pregnancy
What is group B streptococcal disease? — Group B streptococcal disease is an infection caused by bacteria called
“group B streptococcus,” or “GBS” for short. In most healthy adults, GBS is harmless. But in pregnant women and their
babies, a GBS infection can be serious.
This article is about GBS infection in pregnant women and their babies.
What are the symptoms of GBS infection in pregnant women? — GBS infection often causes no symptoms. When it
does cause symptoms, the symptoms depend on the organs involved. Common types of GBS infection include:
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Bladder infection - The symptoms of a bladder infection include:
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Pain or a burning feeling when you urinate
The need to urinate often
The need 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, but they
can also include fever, back pain, and nausea and vomiting.
Amniotic infection (also called intraamniotic infection) – The symptoms of an amniotic infection include
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Fever
Tenderness in the lower part of the belly, where the uterus is found
A fast heart rate in the mother or the fetus (unborn baby)
Is there a test for GBS infection? — 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 all women have a urine culture for GBS early in pregnancy. Expert groups also recommend
that all pregnant women have GBS cultures done on samples from the vagina and rectum at 35 to 37 weeks of pregnancy.
Women who test positive for GBS can take antibiotics to treat the infection.
Should I see a doctor or nurse? — See your doctor or nurse right away if you are pregnant and have any signs of
infection, such as the symptoms listed above.
What problems can GBS cause to a mother or her baby? — In the mother, GBS can cause infections of the amniotic
fluid or uterus, and early delivery (called preterm birth). In newborns, GBS can cause serious infections in the lungs, blood,
brain and spinal cord, bones and joints, and skin and soft tissues (such as muscle or fat).
How is GBS disease treated? — Treatment for pregnant women involves getting an antibiotic into a vein (IV) during labor.
This protects the mother and her baby from having problems caused by GBS.
If you are treated for GBS during labor, you and the baby’s healthcare team should watch the baby for signs of infection after
he or she is born. In a baby, the signs of infection include fever or low temperature, poor feeding, trouble breathing, being
irritable, and being very sleepy.
If your baby’s doctor thinks your baby has an infection, he or she 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