GBS is a specific bacteria. It is common to find this bacteria on the skin along with other bacteria. GBS may pass to newborns in the birth canal during delivery. They may also pick up the bacteria after birth when they come in contact with someone who has the bacteria on their skin.

Bacteria Spreading to Fetus

Risk Factors

Things that may raise a baby's risk of GBS infection include:

An infected mother who doesn’t get treated before birth
Mother had a prior baby with GBS infection
Mother has a urinary tract infection due to GBS
Labor or water breaking before 37 weeks
Water breaking for 18 hours or more before birth
Mother has a fever during labor
Frequent pelvic exams during labor
Use of tools that check the fetus

Symptoms

The newborn with GBS infection may have:

Fever
Breathing problems
Not eating well
Crying a lot
Problems waking

A pregnant woman will rarely have symptoms.

Diagnosis

Pregnant women are tested for the presence of GBS about 5 weeks before delivery date. It is part of normal prenatal care. A cotton swab will be swiped over the vagina and rectum. A lab will test the sample for GBS. If GBS is found, the mother is said to be colonized.

A baby born to a mother with GBS will not always be ill. Tests to confirm GBS infection in the baby may include:

Blood tests
Urine tests
Lumbar puncture—to collect fluid around the spine

Treatment

For the Mother

A mother can be colonized with GBS and not be sick. Treatment may be done to decrease the risk of passing GBS to the baby. Antibiotics will be given through IV during labor. Treatment must be given at least four hours before birth.

For the Baby

A newborn with a GBS infection may be need extra days of medical care. Antibiotics will be given.

Prevention

The risk of a GBS infection in newborns may be decreased by:

Good prenatal care—includes screening for GBS at 35 to 37 weeks gestation
Taking antibiotics during birth if you have not been tested but are at risk

RESOURCES:

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.acog.org

Group B Strep Association
http://www.groupbstrep.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
http://sogc.org

Women's Health Matters
http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca

References:

Group B strep (GBS). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated May 29, 2018. Accessed September 27, 2019.

Group B strep infection: GBS. American Pregnancy Association website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated March 2, 2017. Accessed September 27, 2019.

Group B streptococcal infection in infants less than 3 months old. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dyname... . Updated September 19, 2019. Accessed September 27, 2019.

Last reviewed September 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Kathleen A. Barry, MD
Last Updated: 9/27/2019

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