by 
The Curious Bag
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Beta strep, also known as group B strep, is a bacterium found naturally on the bodies of many people. This bacterium can cause problems if it gets past the body's natural defenses.
Identification
Because strep B is part of our bacterial flora (naturally occurring bacteria), it does not cause illness in most people. It lives in the vagina or rectum, according to the University of Michigan Health System.
Features
Adults who are at risk from developing beta strep disease include pregnant women, older people and people who have other diseases or weakened immune systems, according to the Directors of Health Promotion and Education (DHPE).
Significance
Between 10 percent and 30 percent of women who are pregnant are carriers of strep B bacteria, according to the DHPE. These women can pass the bacteria onto their children.
Time Frame
A child can contract beta strep either before or during delivery. According to the DHPE, this is the most common type of beta strep infection.
Considerations
Newborns sometimes develop beta strep infection after birth, but how this occurs is not yet understood, according to the DHPE.
Source:
University of Michigan Health System: Beta Strep during Pregnancy
Directors of Health Promotion and Education: Group B Streptococcus Facts
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