ANSWERS: 1
  • Group B (beta) strep is a strain of bacteria normally found in the intestines and lower genital tract. This infection can be deadly for newborns, the elderly and adults with weakened immune systems, and women can pass it to their babies during childbirth. The Mayo Clinic and the Directors of Health Promotion and Education offer the following information regarding group B strep.

    Colonization

    Many people are "colonized" with group B strep---meaning it lives in their body without causing problems. It typically resides in the rectum, vagina, throat, bladder and bowel, and between 10 and 30 percent of pregnant women have these bacteria in their genital tract. It can become a problem if weakened immunity in an adult allows the bacteria to enter the bloodstream or if a pregnant woman passes the infection to her child.

    Adults

    Most adults do not experience any symptoms or complications, though they can include infections of the blood, skin and urinary tract, heart valve infections, meningitis and pneumonia. Pregnant women might also experience infections of the amniotic fluid, placenta and uterus.

    Infants

    Infants can contract this infection if they are exposed to or swallow fluids containing the bacteria. The infection tends to develop in the first week of life---most commonly the first 12 hours after birth---but can occur weeks or months later. It can cause pneumonia, meningitis, blood infections, vision, hearing problems and mental retardation.

    Treatment

    Treatment requires pregnant women to take oral antibiotics while newborns must be given intravenous medication. Other adults typically are treated with either approach, depending on the extent of their infection. Babies could require other treatments, such as fluids and oxygen.

    Prevention

    If you are pregnant, get tested for the bacteria at 35 to 37 weeks. If you test positive, your doctor will give you antibiotics during labor. You also would most likely be treated with antibiotics if you carry certain risk factors, such as already having a had a child with the infection, having had a urinary tract infection caused by group B strep, going into labor before 37 weeks or having a fever during labor.

    Source:

    Directors of Health Promotion and Education: Group B Streptococcus

    Mayoclinic.com: Group B Strep---Definition

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