All you need to know about Group B Strep
It's an infection that kills one newborn every week here in the UK and yet many pregnant women have never heard of it.
Here is all you need to know about Group B Strep.
What is Group B Strep?
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a normal bacterium which is carried by up to a third of adults, most commonly in the gut, and for up to 25% of women, in the vagina, usually without symptoms or side-effects. It is not a sexually transmitted disease.
In the UK, pregnant women are not routinely offered testing for group B Strep, unlike in many other developed countries.
How do I get tested?
Sensitive tests designed to detect group B Strep carriage are available, but rarely within the NHS.
If you want to find out whether you carry group B Strep, the sensitive ‘ECM’ (Enriched Culture Medium) test is available from those listed here.
The ECM test is recognised as the ‘gold standard’ for detecting group B Strep carriage.
It’s good to know if you carry group B Strep during your pregnancy so preventative action can be taken to minimise the chance of your newborn baby developing group B Strep infection.
If group B Strep is detected at any time during your pregnancy, you should be offered intravenous antibiotics from the start of your labour and regularly until your baby is born.
According to the Group B Strep Support charity, it is perfectly normal for pregnant women to carry the bacteria.
GBS can be present at any time – in a woman’s first pregnancy, or in one or more subsequent pregnancies.
However, It can be a threat during pregnancy, around delivery and afterwards.
Risk factors for group B Strep infection
Mothers who have previously had a baby infected with GBS – risk is increased 10 times
Mothers where GBS has been found in the urine at any time in this pregnancy – risk is increased 4 times
Mothers who have been shown to carry GBS in this pregnancy – risk is increased 3 times
The following clinical risk factors also increase the chance of a baby developing a GBS infection:
Mothers who have a raised temperature during labour of 37.8°C or higher – risk is increased 4 times
Labour starts or waters break before 37 weeks of pregnancy (i.e. preterm) – risk is increased 3 times
Waters break more than 18 hours before delivery – risk is increased 3 times
What are the symptoms of Strep B in newborns?These include:
Being floppy and unresponsive
Poor feeding
Grunting when breathing
Irritability
Unusually high or low temperature
Unusually fast or slow breathing
Unusually fast or slow heart rate
Seek immediate medical advice if you think your baby may have a group B strep infection.
The Group B Strep Support (GBSS) charity has produced a video to warn expectant mothers of the danger of the infection.
Watch the video below to find out about Group B Strep
Help and support available:
NHS Choices – Group Strep BOverview and information on Group Strep B infection.
The National Childbirth TrustHelpline: 0300 330 0700Help for people becoming parents, offering relevant information, reassurance and mutual support.
Group Strep B Support (GBSS)Helpline: 01444 416176Charity offering information and support to families affected by group B Streptococcus. It also informs about preventing group B Strep in newborns and supports research into the infections.
Tommy’sTo talk to a midwife, call: 0800 0147 800Comprehensive website with details of all aspects of pregnancy and giving birth to a healthy baby, as well as a Midwife Helpline.
NetmumsNetmums is a local network for Mums (or Dads), offering a wealth of information on both a national and local level.
BabyCentreComprehensive online resource for new and expectant parents.