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July is Group B Strep
(GBS) Month |
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Group B
strep (GBS) is a bacteria naturally found in the digestive tract and
birth canal of 1 in 4 pregnant women. These women “carry” or are
“colonized” with GBS. However, GBS can come and go at any time so each
pregnancy can be different. Babies can be infected by GBS before birth
and up to 6 months of age because of their underdeveloped immune
systems.
GBS most commonly causes infection in the blood (sepsis), the fluid and
lining of the brain (meningitis), and lungs (pneumonia). It can cause
babies to be miscarried, stillborn, or die after being born. Some GBS
survivors have permanent handicaps such as blindness, deafness, mental
retardation, and cerebral palsy.
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Previous
Health Topics |
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HOW DO I KNOW IF I CARRY GBS? |
You may carry GBS with or without symptoms, such as vaginal
burning/irritation or unusual discharge. If you have symptoms, see your
doctor promptly for a bacterial culture test.
GBS can also cause bladder infections, with or without symptoms. Ask
your doctor to do a urine culture for GBS and other bacteria (not the
standard prenatal urine check.) GBS in your urine means that you are
heavily colonized, which puts your baby at greater risk.1 Oral
antibiotics should be prescribed.
It is now the standard of care in the USA and Canada for all pregnant
women to be tested for GBS at 35 to 37 weeks of pregnancy. Your doctor
will perform a swab test of your vagina and rectum and obtain the test
results in 2-3 days. If the test result is positive, you carry GBS. Ask
to make sure you are tested during each pregnancy!
Many hospitals now offer rapid, DNA-based tests such as the Xpert™ GBS
Assay (Cepheid, CA, USA). This test can be performed during labor or any
time during pregnancy with results in less than 1 hour.2 Rapid test
results are important because your GBS status can change by the time you
go into labor, culture tests can show a false negative, or your culture
test results may not be available. |
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HOW CAN GBS INFECT MY BABY
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GBS can infect your baby before birth — even before your
water breaks. Procedures such as cervical exams and stripping membranes
or using cervical ripening gel to induce labor can all push GBS closer
to your baby.3-8
GBS can cause preterm labor so that your baby is born too early.
GBS can also cause your water to break prematurely without labor
starting, causing your baby to lose a significant layer of protection.
Babies are most often infected with GBS as they pass through the birth
canal. Internal fetal monitors can cause GBS to enter your baby’s
bloodstream through the cut in his/her scalp.1 GBS infections within the
first week of life are called “early-onset”.
Babies can become infected with GBS by sources other than the mother.
GBS infections after the first week of life are called “late-onset”.
Be aware that your womb and/or C-section wound can become infected by
GBS. |
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WHAT GBS SYMPTOMS DO BABIES SHOW? |
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Take your baby to the emergency room or
call your baby’s doctor immediately if you notice these signs:
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High-pitched cry, shrill moaning,
whimpering
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Marked irritability, inconsolable
crying
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Grunting as if constipated
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Projectile vomiting
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Feeds poorly or refuses to eat
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Sleeping too much, not waking for
feedings
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High or low temperature; hands and
feet may still feel cold even with a fever
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Blotchy, red, or tender skin
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Blue, gray, or pale skin due to lack
of oxygen
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Fast, slow, or difficult breathing
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Body stiffening, uncontrollable
jerking
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Listless, floppy, or not moving an
arm or leg
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Tense or bulgy spot on top of head
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Blank stare
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For more information, visit Group B International |
