Group B streptococcal infection
| Group B streptococcal infection | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Pediatrics  |
Group B Streptococcus (GBS), also known as Streptococcus agalactiae, is a type of bacteria that can cause serious illness and sometimes death, especially in newborn infants and the elderly. It is also an important pathogen in veterinary medicine, as it causes bovine mastitis (inflammation of the udder) in dairy cows. The name alludes to this ("agalactiae"=no milk).
Streptococcus is a genus of spherical, Gram-positive bacteria of the phylum Firmicutes. Streptococcus agalactiae is a gram-positive streptococcus characterized by the presence of Group B Lancefield antigen, and so takes the name Group B Streptococcus. GBS is a member of the normal flora of the gut and female urogenital tract, so many women are carriers of this bacterium without knowing it. GBS colonization can be chronic or intermittent.
Perinatal disease
GBS bacteria can be passed from a pregnant women to her baby during labor, if she is a carrier of the bacteria.
Perinatal Group B Streptococcal Disease
Approximately 10% to 30% of pregnant women are colonized with GBS in the vagina or rectum. Since the bacteria can come and go, testing for GBS is needed every pregnancy. Toward the end of a pregnancy, the vagina and rectum are cultured with a swab at a prenatal appointment. Women with GBS are given an antibiotic during labor. Evidence based research studies show that using this test can reduce infant infections.
Perinatal GBS disease prevention
Collaborative efforts of clinicians, researchers, professional organizations, parent advocacy groups, and the public health community developed recommendations for intrapartum prophylaxis to prevent Perinatal GBS disease. Many organizations have developed Perinatal GBS disease prevention and education programs to reduce the incidence of the disease. Information about the recommendations and the prevention programs can be found in medical journals and on the internet.
References
- Brooks, Geo F., Janet Butel, and Stephen Morse. Jawetz, Melnick, and Adelberg's Medical Microbiology, 22nd edition. 2001.
- Gillespie, Stephen and Kathleen Bamford. Medical Microbiology at a Glance. 2000.
See also
External links
- Prevention of Perinatal Group B Streptococcal Disease August 16, 2002 MMWR 2000;49:228-232.