Strep B Infection In Pregnancy Symptoms
Group b strep is a bacterial infection babies can catch from their mother during childbirth or pick up in their first few months of life.
Strep b infection in pregnancy symptoms. Group b strep is common in pregnant women and rarely causes any problems. It s not routinely tested for but may be found during tests carried out for another reason such as a urine test or vaginal swab. It is one of many germs bacteria that live in our bodies and usually causes no harm. Increasingly group b strep also causes bloodstream infections and pneumonias in nonpregnant adults.
Group b strep gbs causes serious infections in newborn infants and pregnant women. To reduce the risk of infection in pregnant women and newborns cultures are taken from pregnant women during late pregnancy and intravenous antibiotics. Gbs is not a sexually transmitted infection. Group b strep infections can affect newborn babies and adults.
This bacteria is normally found in the vagina and or rectum of about 25 of all healthy adult women women who test positive for gbs are said to be colonized. The centers for disease control and prevention cdc recommends routine screening for vaginal strep b for all pregnant in the u s. When to see a doctor if you have signs or symptoms of group b strep infection particularly if you re pregnant you have a chronic medical condition or you re older than 65 contact your doctor right away. Gbs infections after 3 months of age are extremely rare.
Group b strep infections are treated with antibiotics. In non pregnant adults fever headache confusion shortness of breath or cough if pneumonia a burning sensation when passing urine or frequent visits to the toilet to pass urine if urinary tract infection or red swollen and painful skin if cellulitis. This page focuses on group b strep in pregnancy and babies. Read the answers to more questions about pregnancy.
The infection can be spread to infants before or during birth. Most pregnant women who are colonized by the bacteria have no symptoms. This is because you can test positive for strep b even if you ve tested negative for it in the past. Breastfeeding does not increase the risk of gbs infection and will protect your baby against other infections.
Infants who get this infection can have complications like. Group b streptococcus gbs are bacteria found normally in the intestine vagina and rectum in about 25 of all healthy pregnant women. It s important that all pregnant women are tested between weeks 35 and 37 of every pregnancy. Testing for strep b.
If you carry gbs during pregnancy your baby will usually not develop any problems. Group b streptococcus gbs is sometimes also called strep b or group b strep. Group b strep in pregnancy. For example they may have caught the infection from someone else.