Group Strep B is the leading cause of severe infection in new born babies, including sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia.
Group B Strep Awareness Month focuses on empowering new and expectant parents with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their baby, ensuring those who have been affected by a GBS infection know about us, and engaging with healthcare professionals to improve education and awareness.
What is group B Strep?
Group B Streptococcus (GBS, group B Strep or Strep B) is a type of bacteria which lives in the intestines, rectum, or vagina of 2 to 4 in every ten women in the UK (20 to 40%). This is often referred to as ‘carrying’ or being ‘colonised with’ group B Strep.
Most women carrying GBS will have no symptoms. Carrying GBS is not harmful to you, but there is a small chance it can affect your baby around the time of birth.
GBS can occasionally cause serious infection in young babies and, very rarely, in babies before they are born. Carrying GBS can also sometimes lead to serious infections for pregnant women, though this is also rare.
Key Points
– Group B Strep is one of the many bacteria that normally live in our bodies and which usually cause no harm.
– Group B Strep may be passed from person to person through direct physical contact. It is not a sexually transmitted disease.
– Testing for GBS is not routinely offered to all pregnant women in the UK. Often, GBS is found by chance after a swab or urine test for another reason. You can opt to pay for a private home testing kit.
– Even if you are known to carry GBS, it is unlikely your baby will develop a GBS infection. However, in rare situations, it can lead to serious infections in your baby such as sepsis, pneumonia, or meningitis.
– The risk of your baby becoming unwell with GBS infection is increased if your baby is born pre-term, if you have a temperature (or other signs of infection) during labour, or if your labour hasn’t started more than
24 hours after your waters break.
– Most early-onset GBS infections (those developing in the first week of life) can be prevented by antibiotics during labour.
– You should be offered antibiotics during labour if you have tested positive for GBS during your pregnancy, or if you have previously had a baby affected by a GBS infection. These antibiotics will significantly
reduce the small risk of infection to your baby.
– If your baby develops any signs of GBS infection, they should be treated with antibiotics straight away.