A common bacteria that is usually carried in the intestines or lower genital tract is called Group B strep (streptococcus). Commonly, it is harmless, especially in healthy adults. In any case, it may cause a serious condition called group B strep disease.
Moreover, it also may cause serious infections in adults with chronic health conditions (such as diabetes or liver disease). Older adults also are at higher risk of disease due to group B strep.
Only healthy adults have nothing to do with group B strep. Screening tests are recommended for pregnant women during the third trimester. Therefore, doctors usually prescribe antibiotics during labor to protect the baby.
Symptoms
The symptoms appear different in infants and adults. For example:
Infants
In most cases, babies born by women who carry group B strep are healthy but sometimes they may get the bacteria and become seriously ill. The symptoms in newborns may appear within several hours after birth (early onset) or weeks or months after birth (late onset). Check below some symptoms:
- Fever
- Reduced body temperature
- Irritability
- Jitteriness
- Seizures
- Rash
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- Sluggishness
- Muscle weakness
- Difficulty feeding
Adults
Usually, group B strep is located in the bowel, vagina, rectum, bladder, or throat. Most adults do not experience any symptoms despite having this bacteria. However, depending on location, the bacteria may cause multiple infections. For example:
Urinary Tract Infection
- Persistent urge to urine
- Painful urination
- Passing small amounts of urine but frequently
- Urine color changes including red, bright pink, or cola-colored, which usually indicate blood in the urine
- Pelvic pain
Bacteremia (blood infection)
- Fever
- Chills
- Lack of alertness
- Confusion
Pneumonia
- Chest pain, especially when you cough or breathe
- Trouble breathing
- Cough
- Chills
- Fever
Skin or Soft-tissue Infection
- Redness, warmth, or swelling where the infection occurs
- Pain
- Lesions with drainage or pus
Joint of Bone Infection
- Chills and fever
- Stiffness or inability to use a joint or limb
- Pain in the affected area
People who are pregnant, have chronic health conditions, or are over 65 years old and notice any of the previous symptoms should immediately visit a doctor. However, if you notice that your child experiences group B strep symptoms, contact a doctor right away.
Causes
There are many people that carry this bacteria in their bodies. However, you may carry the bacteria for a short time, it may come and go, or you always have it. While this bacteria cannot spread to other people through sexual activity and does not spread through water and food, anyone can get it. However, physicians do not fully understand why it happens.
The newborns get the bacteria often during delivery from their biological mothers. In any case, taking antibiotics during the labor may prevent the bacteria go to your child.
Risk Factors
Infants
In the following cases, infants are at higher risk of getting group B strep disease. Examples include:
- The biological mother has an infection of the placental tissues and amniotic fluid (chorioamnionitis), water breaks 18 hours or more before delivery, carries the bacteria, has urinary tract infections during pregnancy, and previously delivered an infant with group B strep disease.
- The newborns are at increased risk of getting the bacteria if the mother’s temperature is higher than 100.4 F (38 C) degrees during labor or the baby is born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy).
Adults
People over 65 years old are at higher risk of developing this disease. Those who suffer from chronic health conditions also are at increased risk of developing group B strep disease. These include:
- Diabetes
- HIV infection
- Liver or heart disease
- Cancer
Complications
Anyone can develop life-threatening complications if not treating the disease. Check below some complications in infants:
- Pneumonia
- Bacteremia (blood infection)
- Meningitis (inflammation of the brain’s membranes and spinal cord)
Complications in Pregnant Women
- Chorioamnionitis (placenta and amniotic fluid infection)
- Urinary tract infections
- Bacteremia
- Endometritis (infection of the uterus lining)
Older Adults and People with Chronic Diseases
- Skin infections
- Bacteremia
- Pneumonia
- Urinary tract infections
- Bone and joint infections
- Endocarditis (heart valve infection)
- Meningitis
Discuss with your healthcare professional about ways to reduce the risk of complications.
Prevention
As per the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommendations a group B strep screening should be performed during 36 and 37 weeks of pregnancy if you are pregnant. To perform this test, doctors will take a swab sample from the vagina and rectum and send them for laboratory testing. Therefore, a positive test result means you carry this bacteria but does not indicate you are ill or your baby will be affected. It shows that you are at higher risk of passing the bacteria to the unborn baby. In such cases, physicians will prescribe antibiotics that are usually given IV (intravenously) to protect the baby from getting the bacteria during labor.
For people who are allergic to Penicillin or similar medicines, doctors may prescribe Clindamycin or Vancomycin. However, the effectiveness of alternative medications is not fully understood, your baby should be monitored for roughly 48 hours.
It is not advised to take oral antibiotics before time because the bacteria may return before the labor begins and spread to the baby. Commonly, antibiotic treatments are recommended in the following cases. For example:
- Urinary tract infections
- Previous baby with group B strep disease
- A high fever during labor
- The delivery of the baby does not occur within 18 hours of your water-breaking
- Labor begins before 37 weeks of pregnancy
In addition, researchers work on a group B strep disease vaccine that may help prevent further group B strep infections.
Diagnosis
Commonly, if your doctor suspects the baby has this condition after birth, he/she may recommend performing some tests to confirm the disease. Examples include:
- Blood or spinal fluid samples tested in the laboratory
- Urine culture
- Lumbar puncture
- Chest X-ray
A blood test is often enough to diagnose the infection and cause of group B strep in adults.
Treatment
Infants
If the results show your baby has group B strep disease, doctors usually recommend intravenous antibiotics. However, physicians may recommend intravenous fluids, oxygen, or other medicines depending on the severity of the baby’s condition.
Adults
The most effective medicines to treat this disease in adults are antibiotics. The type of medicine will decide your doctor depending on the location and extent of the infection as well as other factors.
For pregnant women who experience complications caused by group B strep, physicians usually recommend oral antibiotics (such as Penicillin, Amoxicillin, or Cephalexin). Previous medicines are considered safe to be used during pregnancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What health conditions does group B strep cause?
This bacteria may cause serious infections that affect different body parts. For example urinary tract infections (bladder infections), lung infections (such as pneumonia), bone and joints infections, skin and soft-tissue infections, and others.
What is the difference between strep A and B?
While group A streptococcus (also called GAS or strep A) is responsible for several benign infections that cause invasive and fatal infections (rarely), group B strep can cause severe invasive infections, especially in children. These include bacteremia, meningitis, and others. For more details, discuss it with your physician.
What are the primary symptoms of group B strep disease?
These include:
- Fever
- Confusion
- Breathing problems
- Burning sensation when urinating
- Headaches
- Cough
This article does not contain all possible group B strep disease symptoms. However, if you experience any of the symptoms listed above, immediately contact your healthcare professional. If you have additional questions, ask your doctor.
