How Do You Get GBS in Pregnancy ?

Welcome to our new blog. In this article we have covered How do you get GBS in pregnancy in very detail. What is GBS ? How it is contracted ? Symptoms, Treatment and Preventions also know who are at risk of having GBS. GBS also known as (Group B Streptococcus) is an infection caused by bacteria that found in the reproductive, stomach, and urinary systems. Around 25% of pregnant women have GBS but are unaware of it. Read the entire blog to get valuable insights. Our specialists conducted thorough research before writing this blog. I am hoping you will find this site useful.

What is GBS (Group B Streptococcus) ?

GBS also known as (Group B Streptococcus) is an infection caused by bacteria that found in the reproductive, stomach, and urinary systems. Due to the lack of symptoms, around 25% of pregnant women have GBS but are unaware of it. During a vaginal birth, a woman who has GBS during pregnancy risks infecting her unborn child. Group B strep problems are more common in young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.

Most GBS-infected newborns don’t develop any symptoms. In just a few percent of babies, the bacteria can, however, result in serious illnesses that are even fatal. In the course of your usual prenatal care, medical professionals will check you for group B strep. If the test is positive, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to treat you.

How do you get GBS in pregnancy ?

Your body has GBS bacteria in places including your intestines, genital tract, and urine system. Adults are unable to contract it by exchanging food or drinks with infected people or by coming into close touch with them. Although experts don’t fully understand how the bacterium spreads, they do know that it may be dangerous for infants and adults with immune systems that are weak.

How does a baby get contracted with GBS ?

Most of the newborn babies do not have any problem if their mothers is being treated with antibiotics during labor. But GBS can lead to serious illness in certain infants. Because of the less developed state of their bodies and immune systems, premature newborns are more prone to contract GBS than full-term infants. There are two types of GBS disease in babies are :

• Early onset infection : The majority of GBS infections in infants (75%) occur within the first week of life. Usually, a GBS infection becomes visible soon after birth. Although there is a higher risk for infection in premature newborns, most GBS patients are full-term.
• Late-onset infection : From a week to three months after delivery, GBS infection can potentially strike babies. Compared to early-onset infections, late-onset infections are less frequent and less likely to cause a baby’s mortality.

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When will you have a GBS test ?

All pregnancies should undergo routine GBS testing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Between 36 and 37 weeks of pregnancy, a GBS screening is performed on you. For the group B streptococcus test, your doctor will swab your vagina and rectum before sending it to a lab for examination.

Symptoms of GBS in Newborn and Infants

Newborn baby and infants can be also infected by GBS. There are some signs and symptoms of GBS in newborn and infants are following :

• A fever issues with feeding
• Breathing difficulties
• Intolerance or fussiness
• Passivity or sluggishness
• Difficulty maintaining a normal body temperature

Babies with the GBS illness may experience severe issues like :

• Bronchitis
• A sudden violent movement of the body that you cannot control
• Sepsis
• Meningitis (infection of the membranes around the brain). With late-onset GBS illness, meningitis is more frequent and, in rare instances, can result in hearing loss, visual loss, learning impairments, and even death.

Symptoms of GBS In Adults

Many individuals have GBS in their bodies without showing any symptoms, typically in the digestive system, vagina, rectum, bladder, or throat. However, GBS can occasionally result in a urethritis or other more severe illnesses. The following are indications and symptoms of infections that might be brought on by group B streptococcus.

UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)

• An intense, continuous need to urinate
• A discomfort or burning feeling during urination
• Urinating often and in little quantities
• A indication of blood in the urine is red in color, bright pink, or coke-colored pee.
• Pelvic discomfort

Bacteria in the blood

• Fever and Chills
• Lack of clarity or concentration

Pneumonia

• Fever and Chills
• Coughing
• Breathing difficulty
• Your chest pains when you breathe or cough.

Infection in bone or joint

• Fever and Chills
• Swelling, warmth, or redness around the infection-affected area
• Pain in the infection’s area
• Inability to move a limb or joint due to stiffness

A soft-tissue or skin infection

• Swelling or inflammation in the infection’s spot
• Pain in the infected area
• Bruises that have pus or discharge

What kinds of problems might GBS cause to ?

GBS affects about 1 in every 4 women. GBS can infect the womb, placenta, urinary system, and amniotic fluid in pregnant women.

GBS-related health issues are uncommon. However, it can make certain individuals sick, including the elderly and those with certain medical problems. The blood, lungs, skin, and bones are just a few of the bodily parts that GBS may infect.

Pregnant women can transmit the virus to their unborn children during labor and delivery even if they haven’t shown any signs of the infection.

What happens if you have GBS in pregnancy ?

During labor and delivery, medical professionals treat you with intravenous (IV) antibiotics to prevent GBS infection in your unborn child. Penicillin or ampicillin is the most often used antibiotic to treat group B streptococcus. Giving you an antibiotic now helps stop the transmission of GBS from you to your infant. GBS treatment before to birth is ineffective. Preferably, the antibiotics should be taken at least four hours before delivery.

When GBS is found in the urine, there is an exemption to the timing of therapy. When GBS is discovered (no matter what the stage of pregnancy), oral antibiotic therapy starts. However after giving antibiotics intravenously.

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How prevalent is GBS ?

Prenatal testing for group B strep has reduced the incidence of cases. The CDC estimates that 930 infants have early-onset GBS and 1,050 experience late-onset GBS. 4% of infants with GBS will pass away as a result of it.

Can my spouse get contracted with GBS by me ?

The bacteria that cause group B strep do not circulate through food or drink or through sexual contact. It is unknown how bacteria can spread to anyone other than infants. A newborn may get group B streptococcus during a vaginal birth if the infant is exposed to or consumes fluids contaminated with the infection.

what are the Risk factors of GBS in Infant ?

There are some risk factors of developing GBS in Infant are following :

• Group B strep is present in the mother’s body.
• The infant is born too soon (before 37 weeks).
• 18 hours or more before delivery, the mother breaks her water.
• The mother has chorioamnionitis, an infection of the amniotic fluid and placental tissues.
• Throughout her pregnancy, the woman develops a urinary tract infection.
• During labor, the mother’s temperature is higher than 100.4 F (38 C).
• The woman had previously given birth to a child who had group B strep infection.

what are the Risk factors of GBS in Adults ?

Group B streptococcus is more common in those who are 65 or older than 65. You are also more likely to get one of the following dangerous diseases or a condition that weakens your immune system:

• HIV/AIDS
• Diabetes
• Liver illness
• Heart condition
• A history of cancer or having cancer

How is GBS in treated ?

A pregnant lady will undergo testing to determine whether she has GBS. If so, intravenous (IV) antibiotics will be given to her during birth in order to kill the germs. In most cases, doctors use penicillin, but if a woman is sensitive to it, they may prescribe another medication.

For at least four hours prior to birth, it is advisable for a woman to take antibiotics. This little action significantly aids in preventing the transmission of GBS to the infant. A pregnant woman may also be given antibiotics while in labor if :

• Goes into labor early, without having been tested for GBS
• More than 18 hours before birth, the water breaks. 
• Pregnant women who have not been tested for GBS
• Had a fever during labor 
• Previously had a baby with GBS disease.

What is the treatment for GBS in infants?

Despite diagnosis and antibiotic therapy during childbirth, some newborns continue to get GBS infections. Healthcare providers could take a sample of the infant’s blood or spinal fluid to look for GBS infection. If your infant has GBS, they will get antibiotics intravenously.

How can I prevent GBS infection ?

Each of the pregnancy, a woman should be screened for GBS since it is a condition that the body periodically releases. Women with GBS who get antibiotics during birth at the appropriate time perform well, and the majority do not infect their unborn children.

Go to the hospital rather than giving birth at home if you have GBS and start to experience labor pains. You can help in defending your infant against early-onset GBS illness by receiving IV antibiotics for at least 4 hours prior to birth.

When should I visit my doctor if I test positive for GBS ?

GBS can occasionally infect a pregnant woman. Infection signs include fever, discomfort, and a faster heartbeat. If you have any of those symptoms, let your doctor know right away since premature labor might result. Urinary tract infections (UTIs), which need for oral medications, can also be brought on by GBS. If you have group B strep, talk to your healthcare practitioner about what to expect during labor and delivery.

Conclusion

So, In this blog we have discussed about How do you get GBS in pregnancy and what is GBS ? How it is contracted ? It’s symptoms , treatment and precautions that you can take during GBS infection. However try not to freak out if your doctor informs you test positive for group B streptococcus. It is caused by bacteria that your body naturally produces. Transmission of GBS to your unborn child is quite low , especially if you take antibiotics while giving birth. Discuss with your healthcare provider also if you have any other query related to it. I hope this article helped you a lot.

Dear readers please share this blog with your friends and family if you really liked our efforts and also do check out other pages of our website and read more topics related to selfcare during and after pregnancy. Please consult your healthcare provider too before taking any decision. Thank You

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