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How Can I Help Protect My Baby....
...during pregnancy? ...when my water breaks or I start labor? ...after my baby is born? |
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(Click HERE to VIEW or DOWNLOAD the following in our brochure’s checklist format.
Group B strep (GBS) is a type of bacteria that is naturally found in the digestive and reproductive tracts of both men and women. About 1 in 4 pregnant women “carry” or are “colonized” with GBS. Carrying GBS does not mean that you are unclean. Anyone can carry GBS.
Unfortunately, babies can be infected by GBS before birth through several months of age due to their underdeveloped immune systems. Only a few babies who are exposed to GBS become infected, but GBS can cause babies to be miscarried, stillborn, or become very sick and sometimes even die after birth. GBS most commonly causes infection in the blood (sepsis), the fluid and lining of the brain (meningitis), and lungs (pneumonia). Some GBS survivors experience handicaps such as blindness, deafness, mental challenges, and/or cerebral palsy.
Fortunately, most GBS infections that develop at birth can be prevented if women who have tested positive receive at least 4 hours of IV (through the vein) antibiotics just prior to delivery.
Unfortunately, babies can be infected by GBS before birth through several months of age due to their underdeveloped immune systems. Only a few babies who are exposed to GBS become infected, but GBS can cause babies to be miscarried, stillborn, or become very sick and sometimes even die after birth. GBS most commonly causes infection in the blood (sepsis), the fluid and lining of the brain (meningitis), and lungs (pneumonia). Some GBS survivors experience handicaps such as blindness, deafness, mental challenges, and/or cerebral palsy.
Fortunately, most GBS infections that develop at birth can be prevented if women who have tested positive receive at least 4 hours of IV (through the vein) antibiotics just prior to delivery.
Although most women do not have any symptoms, GBS can cause vaginal burning/irritation and/or unusual discharge which may be mistaken for a yeast infection and treated incorrectly. (1) If you have “vaginitis” symptoms, see your care provider promptly for an exam and possible GBS testing.
GBS can also cause bladder infections, with or without symptoms. Your provider should do a urine culture for GBS and other bacteria (this is not the standard prenatal urine “dipstick” check) at the first prenatal visit. GBS in your urine means that you may be heavily colonized which puts your baby at greater risk. (2) If your urine tests positive, your provider should consider you as “GBS colonized” for this pregnancy so that you receive IV antibiotics for GBS when labor starts or your water breaks.
It is now the standard of care in the US and several other countries for all pregnant women to be routinely tested for GBS at 35–37 weeks during each pregnancy unless their urine already cultured positive in the current pregnancy. (Since levels of GBS can change, each pregnancy can be different.) Your provider will perform a swab test of both your vagina and rectum and receive the test results in 2–3 days. Inform your provider if you are using antibiotics and/or vaginal medications which may cause false negative results.(3)
Some hospitals will offer rapid, DNA-based tests which can be performed during labor or any time during pregnancy with results in just a few hours.(2) These tests can help supplement your routine GBS testing because:
GBS can also cause bladder infections, with or without symptoms. Your provider should do a urine culture for GBS and other bacteria (this is not the standard prenatal urine “dipstick” check) at the first prenatal visit. GBS in your urine means that you may be heavily colonized which puts your baby at greater risk. (2) If your urine tests positive, your provider should consider you as “GBS colonized” for this pregnancy so that you receive IV antibiotics for GBS when labor starts or your water breaks.
It is now the standard of care in the US and several other countries for all pregnant women to be routinely tested for GBS at 35–37 weeks during each pregnancy unless their urine already cultured positive in the current pregnancy. (Since levels of GBS can change, each pregnancy can be different.) Your provider will perform a swab test of both your vagina and rectum and receive the test results in 2–3 days. Inform your provider if you are using antibiotics and/or vaginal medications which may cause false negative results.(3)
Some hospitals will offer rapid, DNA-based tests which can be performed during labor or any time during pregnancy with results in just a few hours.(2) These tests can help supplement your routine GBS testing because:
- Your GBS status can change by the time you go into labor
- Culture tests can show a false negative
- Your culture test results may not be available
Carissa was born weighing 1 pound, 12 ounces because GBS caused her mother to go into preterm labor.
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HOW CAN I HELP PROTECT MY BABY
Ask to have a urine culture for GBS and other bacteria done at your first prenatal visit.(4) If you have a significant level of GBS in your urine, your provider should prescribe oral antibiotics at the time of diagnosis. GBSI advocates a recheck (“test of cure”) one month after treatment.
See your provider promptly for any symptoms of bladder (urinary tract) infection and/or vaginitis symptoms. (5) Be aware that bacteria can be passed between sexual partners, including through oral contact.(6) Contact your provider immediately in you experience either:
Get tested at 35–37 weeks. If the test result is positive, you should receive IV antibiotics when labor starts or your water breaks. Get a copy of all culture test results and keep them with you! Plan ahead if you have short labors or live far from the hospital.The IV antibiotics you receive in labor generally take 4 hours to be optimally effective. Ask about a late third-trimester penicillin shot as a possible safeguard.(7) (Note: not a widely accepted strategy.) Tell your provider if you are allergic to penicillin. There are IV antibiotic alternatives.(8) Know that “alternative medicine” treatments such as garlic or tea tree oil have not been proven to prevent your baby from becoming infected.8 Some are unsafe. Wren’s mother followed an alternative regimen of acidophilus, echinacea, garlic capsules, vitamin C, grapefruit seed extract, and garlic suppositories to eradicate GBS from her body when pregnant with Wren. Wren was 7 pounds, 20.5 inches and perfect at birth after a normal labor and delivery at home. He died 11 hours later from a group B strep infection in his lungs. Avoid unnecessary, frequent, or forceful internal exams which may push GBS closer to your baby (9). (Knowing how far you are dilated does not accurately predict when your baby will be born.) Vaginal or perineal ultrasounds are a less invasive option.(10) Discuss the benefits vs. risks of possible methods of induction with your provider well before your due date as not all providers ask before “stripping” (also known as “sweeping”) membranes. Ask your provider to not strip your membranes if you test positive for GBS. (Be aware that you may test negative, but be GBS positive later.) GBS can cross even intact membranes and procedures such as stripping membranes and using cervical ripening gel to induce labor may push bacteria closer to your baby.(11-13) If you are having a planned C-section, talk to your provider about the risks vs. benefits of starting IV antibiotics well before your incision. C-sections may not completely prevent GBS infection although the risk during a planned C-section is extremely low if performed before your labor starts and before your water breaks. Talk to your provider about whether or not to use internal fetal monitors and/or have your water broken before you have had IV antibiotics for at least 4 hours. |
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Call your care provider. Report any fever. Remind him or her of your GBS status. If you have already had a baby with GBS disease or have had GBS in your urine in this pregnancy, you should receive IV antibiotics regardless of this pregnancy’s GBS test results.
Go to the hospital immediately if you should receive IV antibiotics. Have all test results with you. Be sure to tell the nurses that you need to start IV antibiotics for GBS.
If you do not have a GBS test result, and your hospital does not offer a rapid GBS test, per the CDC guidelines you should be offered
IV antibiotics based on the following risk factors:
In half of GBS infections, the mother has no risk factors.(15) This is why testing is so important!
Go to the hospital immediately if you should receive IV antibiotics. Have all test results with you. Be sure to tell the nurses that you need to start IV antibiotics for GBS.
If you do not have a GBS test result, and your hospital does not offer a rapid GBS test, per the CDC guidelines you should be offered
IV antibiotics based on the following risk factors:
- Your baby will be born before 37 weeks.
- Your water has been broken 18+ hours without delivering. (Even 12+ hours increases the risk.[14])
- You have a fever of 100.4 °F or higher during labor.
In half of GBS infections, the mother has no risk factors.(15) This is why testing is so important!
If you give birth before you have had 4 hours of antibiotics, the hospital may culture your baby and should observe him/her for 48 hours.(2) You can ask about your baby having antibiotics while waiting for the results of the culture. (Note: Recent research suggests antibiotic treatment may disturb the baby’s protective intestinal flora.)
Breastfeeding can supply your baby with important antibodies to fight infection.(16) However, it is speculated that a few late-onset and recurrent GBS infections are possibly associated with infected breast milk. (17,18) It is currently thought that the health benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risk of exposure to GBS.(19,20)
Have everyone wash their hands before handling your baby.
Make sure everyone who takes care of your baby knows the symptoms of GBS infection in babies and how to respond.
Breastfeeding can supply your baby with important antibodies to fight infection.(16) However, it is speculated that a few late-onset and recurrent GBS infections are possibly associated with infected breast milk. (17,18) It is currently thought that the health benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risk of exposure to GBS.(19,20)
Have everyone wash their hands before handling your baby.
Make sure everyone who takes care of your baby knows the symptoms of GBS infection in babies and how to respond.
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SYMPTOMS OF GBS INFECTION IN BABIES |
Download our list of symptoms here to post for your family and your baby's caregivers
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Call your baby’s care provider immediately or take your baby to the emergency room if you notice any of these signs:
- Sounds - High-pitched cry, shrill moaning, whimpering, inconsolable crying, constant grunting or moaning as if constipated or in distress
Crying sounds made by Wren who lived 11 hours due to GBS pneumonia
Grunting sounds made by Aayan who was diagnosed with GBS meningitis. The grunting sounds he made are a common, yet often unrecognized, symptom of GBS meningitis. Although Aayan was born premature, he was healthy except for apnea until he became infected by GBS at 98 days of age. He passed away 12 days later.
- Breathing - Fast, slow, or difficult breathing
- Appearance of skin - Blue, gray, or pale skin, blotchy or red skin, tense or bulging fontanel (soft spot on a baby's head), infection (pus/red skin) at base of umbilical cord or in puncture on head from internal fetal monitor
Above: Premature but otherwise healthy Jasmine
Below: Jasmine with cardiovascular shock-induced
pallor due to late-onset GBS disease
Below: Jasmine with cardiovascular shock-induced
pallor due to late-onset GBS disease
- Eating and Sleeping Habits - Feeding poorly, refusing to eat, not waking for feedings, sleeping too much, difficulty being aroused
- Behavior - Marked irritability, projectile vomiting, reacting as if skin is tender when touched, not moving an arm or leg, listless, floppy, blank stare, body stiffening, uncontrollable jerking
- Body Temperature - Fever or low or unstable temperature, hands and feet may feel cold even with a fever
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LEARN from the experiences of GBS parents worldwide CONTRIBUTE to empower more parents being informed about GBS SHARE so everyone knows about GBS! |
GBSI is a group of parents who are using their experiences with GBS to prevent heartache for other families. Please help us continue our efforts!
1. Maniatis AN, Palermos J, Kantzanou M, Maniatis NA, Christodoulou C, Legakis NJ. Streptococcus agalactiae: a vaginal pathogen? Department of Microbiology, Medical School, University of Athens, Greece. J Med Microbiol.;44(3):199-202, March 1996.
2. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Prevention of Perinatal Group B Streptococcal Disease, Revised Guidelines from CDC, 2010, Vol. 59, No. RR-10, pages 7, 23. November 19, 2010.
3. Ostroff RM, Steaffans JW. Effect of specimen storage, antibiotics, and feminine hygiene products on the detection of group B Streptococcus by culture and the STREP B OIA test. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 1995 Jul;22(3):253-9.
4. US. Preventive Services Task Force, Screening for Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Adults, Reaffirmation Recommendation Statement, July 2008.
5. McGregor, James A., Infection and prematurity: the evidence is in. Medical Tribune Opinion, Feb. 6, 1997.
6. Manning SD, Tallman P, Baker CJ, Gillespie B, Marrs CF, Foxman B. Determinants of co-colonization with group B streptococcus among heterosexual college couples. Epidemiology.2002 Sep;13(5):533-9.
7. Pinette MG, Thayer K, Wax JR, Blackstone J, Cartin A. Efficacy of intramuscular penicillin in the eradication of group B streptococcal colonization at delivery. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2005 May; 17(5):333-5.
8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Prevention in Newborns.” http://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/about/prevention.html
9. Akin W., Fatheree D., Klausing C., “Vaginal Exams in Late Pregnancy.” www.childbirth.org.
10. McGregor JA, “Group B Strep: A Patient/Provider Approach for Optimizing Care.” www.OBGYN.net.
11. McGregor JA, Parsons A, French JI, “Ultrasound Illustration of the Functional Connectedness of the Lower and Upper Reproductive Tracts”
12. Akin W., Fatheree D., Klausing C., “Stripping the Membranes.” www.childbirth.org.
13. DeMott K., “Cervical Manipulations linked to Perinatal Sepsis: Consider GBS-specific Chemoprophylaxis (Eight Case Reports),” OB/GYN News, Oct. 15, 2001.
14. SOGC Clinical Practice Guidelines. The Prevention of Early-onset Neonatal Group B Streptococcal Disease. No. 149, September 2004.
15. Rosenstein N, Schuchat A. Neonatal GBS Disease Study Group. “Opportunities for prevention of perinatal group B streptococcal disease: A multistate surveillance analysis.” Obstet Gynecol 90:901-6. 1997.
16. Lagergard T, Thiringer K, Wassen L, Schneerson R, Trollfors B. Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Goteborg, Sweden. “Isotype composition of antibodies to streptococcus group B type III polysaccharide and to tetanus toxoid in maternal, cord blood sera and in breast milk.” Eur J Pediatr. 151(2):98-102. Feb 1992.
17. Lanari M, Serra L, Cavrini F, Liguori G, Sambri V , “Late-onset group B streptococcal disease by infected mother’s milk detected by polymerase chain reaction.” New Microbiol.2007 Jul;30(3):253-4.
18.Kotiw M, Zhang GW, Daggard G, Reiss-Levy E, Tapsall JW, Numa A, Center for Biomedical Research, Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia 4350. [email protected]. “Late-onset and recurrent neonatal Group B streptococcal disease associated with breast-milk transmission.” Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2003 May-Jun;6(3):251-6. Epub 2003 Apr 14.
19. Sarasa NL, “Mother’s Milk Still Best-and We Must Do Better.” MEDICC Rev. 2013 Jan;15(1):48.
20. American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement, “Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk”, Pediatrics Vol. 129 No. 3 March 1, 2012, pp e827-e841 (doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-3552)
2. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Prevention of Perinatal Group B Streptococcal Disease, Revised Guidelines from CDC, 2010, Vol. 59, No. RR-10, pages 7, 23. November 19, 2010.
3. Ostroff RM, Steaffans JW. Effect of specimen storage, antibiotics, and feminine hygiene products on the detection of group B Streptococcus by culture and the STREP B OIA test. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 1995 Jul;22(3):253-9.
4. US. Preventive Services Task Force, Screening for Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Adults, Reaffirmation Recommendation Statement, July 2008.
5. McGregor, James A., Infection and prematurity: the evidence is in. Medical Tribune Opinion, Feb. 6, 1997.
6. Manning SD, Tallman P, Baker CJ, Gillespie B, Marrs CF, Foxman B. Determinants of co-colonization with group B streptococcus among heterosexual college couples. Epidemiology.2002 Sep;13(5):533-9.
7. Pinette MG, Thayer K, Wax JR, Blackstone J, Cartin A. Efficacy of intramuscular penicillin in the eradication of group B streptococcal colonization at delivery. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2005 May; 17(5):333-5.
8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Prevention in Newborns.” http://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/about/prevention.html
9. Akin W., Fatheree D., Klausing C., “Vaginal Exams in Late Pregnancy.” www.childbirth.org.
10. McGregor JA, “Group B Strep: A Patient/Provider Approach for Optimizing Care.” www.OBGYN.net.
11. McGregor JA, Parsons A, French JI, “Ultrasound Illustration of the Functional Connectedness of the Lower and Upper Reproductive Tracts”
12. Akin W., Fatheree D., Klausing C., “Stripping the Membranes.” www.childbirth.org.
13. DeMott K., “Cervical Manipulations linked to Perinatal Sepsis: Consider GBS-specific Chemoprophylaxis (Eight Case Reports),” OB/GYN News, Oct. 15, 2001.
14. SOGC Clinical Practice Guidelines. The Prevention of Early-onset Neonatal Group B Streptococcal Disease. No. 149, September 2004.
15. Rosenstein N, Schuchat A. Neonatal GBS Disease Study Group. “Opportunities for prevention of perinatal group B streptococcal disease: A multistate surveillance analysis.” Obstet Gynecol 90:901-6. 1997.
16. Lagergard T, Thiringer K, Wassen L, Schneerson R, Trollfors B. Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Goteborg, Sweden. “Isotype composition of antibodies to streptococcus group B type III polysaccharide and to tetanus toxoid in maternal, cord blood sera and in breast milk.” Eur J Pediatr. 151(2):98-102. Feb 1992.
17. Lanari M, Serra L, Cavrini F, Liguori G, Sambri V , “Late-onset group B streptococcal disease by infected mother’s milk detected by polymerase chain reaction.” New Microbiol.2007 Jul;30(3):253-4.
18.Kotiw M, Zhang GW, Daggard G, Reiss-Levy E, Tapsall JW, Numa A, Center for Biomedical Research, Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia 4350. [email protected]. “Late-onset and recurrent neonatal Group B streptococcal disease associated with breast-milk transmission.” Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2003 May-Jun;6(3):251-6. Epub 2003 Apr 14.
19. Sarasa NL, “Mother’s Milk Still Best-and We Must Do Better.” MEDICC Rev. 2013 Jan;15(1):48.
20. American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement, “Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk”, Pediatrics Vol. 129 No. 3 March 1, 2012, pp e827-e841 (doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-3552)
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