Positive For Group B Streptococci And Pregnant

Vaginas have microbiota (flora). Its function is to protect you from the germs in your body that lead to infections such as group B streptococci, also known by its Latin name: Streptococcus agalactiae.

Streptococcal infection is usually asymptomatic. That means we usually don’t know we’re infected. However, in certain situations, such as during pregnancy, you should try to detect its existence to prevent your baby from becoming infected.

Testing Group B Streptococci

Group B strep is one of the routine tests done during pregnancy to prevent future complications after delivery.

These tests are performed during pregnancy to achieve a healthy period that is as risk-free as possible for both mother and baby. These include:

• blood tests
• ultrasound
• the ‘positive rapid strep test’

Pregnancy checkups in the first two trimesters focus on a baby’s proper development and the mother’s general health. In the third trimester, many of the tests focus on the birth process and provide a lot of information to help reduce risks.

Around week 35, your midwife will make an appointment with you to assess your health and do a rapid strep test. To detect the presence of the bacteria, the midwife will take a sample of your vaginal discharge with a cotton swab. This examination is quick and painless.

Reducing the risk of Group B strep

This bacteria is part of the normal vaginal microbiota and does not always cause bothersome symptoms. Group B streptococci are sometimes just part of the normal flora of your gastrointestinal tract. About 15% of pregnant women are carriers.

It is not possible to prevent the presence of group B streptococci. Usually, the immune system does not consider it a pathogen (harmful to the body). However, in certain situations, such as during pregnancy and childbirth, you should remain extremely vigilant.

Newborns usually come into contact with bacteria at birth and pose a huge risk of infection. Medics have tools and protocols to reduce the risk of infections. The carriers must therefore report the situation upon arrival at the hospital.

The result of the rapid test comes after about a week. It is important to know the results of a strep test before going to the hospital at the time of delivery.

In the hospital

The rapid strep test, along with other parameters, will inform your health care team about any conditions you may have before delivery. Detection of positive strep is one of the last tests performed before delivery.

If the result is positive, a certain protocol must be followed. These action protocols are designed by each hospital based on their clinical experience. The most common protocols include the following:

• First, the doctors need to know if there are any allergies to drugs, especially when it comes to antibiotics. You should tell them if you have ever had any side effects after taking antibiotics.

• Usually they will give an intravenous antibiotic every 4 or 6 hours (this is the most common way, although there are also oral antibiotics) until the baby is born.
• After delivery , a pediatrician visits the newborn every day while they are in the hospital. The goal then is to assess their overall well-being.

Thus, the main goal of follow-up and protocol is to reduce potential infection risks to the baby. Knowledge of the results of the tests ensures that one knows whether the protocols are applicable.