Pregnant women who have GBS can pass it on to their baby right after delivery when the baby passes through the birth canal.

Most babies who get GBS from their mothers don’t have any problems; however, in some cases infection during birth can lead to blindness, deafness, retardation, physical disability, and in the worst cases death.

There are several maternal risk factors that increase the chance of transmitting the disease to the newborn some of which include:

• Fever during labor
• Preterm labor
• Membrane rupture more than 18 hours before delivery

In newborns, most GBS infections occur during the first week of life, often during the first 24 hours. Infection during this period is termed early-onset disease. If group B strep infection occurs from 1 week to 3 months of age, it is termed late-onset disease. Both early and late infections can be serious.

GBS infection in pregnant women is diagnosed through a routine screening. This test is generally performed between 35-37 weeks of pregnancy and involves taking a culture sample from the mother. The culture is then tested and will show if GBS is present.

In newborns, GBS infection can be diagnosed with blood tests and/or spinal-fluid analysis. Similar testing may be used to diagnose the disease in adults.

For women who test positive for GBS during pregnancy, and for those with certain risk factors for developing or transmitting GBS infection during pregnancy, intravenous antibiotics are recommended. Penicillin is the antibiotic most often given to prevent GBS in newborns.

At this point in time, the best treatment for GBS infection is prevention through routine screening during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, please visit with your doctor about GBS.

Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services