Protect babies from Group B Strep infection - Group B Strep Support

Protect babies from
Group B Strep infection
What is Group B Strep?
Group B Streptococcus (GBS or Group B Strep) is
a bacterium “carried” by up to 30% of UK adults.
It occurs normally and naturally in many people
and typically causes no harm or symptoms. GBS
carriage can come and go and does not require
treatment, it’s normal.
What is GBS infection?
GBS can cause infection, particularly in newborn
babies. Although relatively uncommon, the
consequences can be devastating – untreated
around one in every 1,000 babies or 700 babies
a year in the UK would develop GBS infection,
usually septicaemia, pneumonia and/or meningitis.
With prompt medical care, most sick babies
recover fully, but up to 10% of infected babies die
and at least 5% of survivors suffer long-term
problems. That’s roughly 70 babies dying and
another 40 survivors left with problems every year.
This is why prevention is so important.
What do I need to know?
Most GBS infection in newborn babies can be
prevented by giving Mums with recognised ‘risk
factors’ antibiotics from the start of labour until
delivery. A key ‘risk factor’ is carrying GBS late in
pregnancy (others are a previous baby infected
with GBS, GBS being found in Mum’s urine during
the pregnancy, Mum having a fever in labour,
labour starting or waters breaking before 37 weeks
of pregnancy and waters breaking 18 or more
hours before delivery).
Mums can find out if they’re likely to be
carrying GBS at delivery by doing sensitive
Enriched Culture Method (ECM) tests ideally at
35-37 weeks of pregnancy. ECM tests for GBS
carriage are not widely available on the NHS,
although they are available privately for around
£32 (see over). Most testing for GBS carriage on
the NHS uses high vaginal swabs (rather than low
vaginal and rectal swabs) and an inferior culture
method. As a result, it only finds GBS around half
the time it’s present – 50% of Mums carrying GBS
when the NHS test is done are told it’s not there.
GBS carriage can come and go so it’s good to do
an ECM test each pregnancy.
What do I do now?
If you are pregnant or know someone who is
expecting a baby, then find out more about GBS.
Most GBS infections in newborn babies are
preventable. For more information about GBS,
contact Group B Strep Support, or ask your
midwife or obstetrician.
Group B Strep Support (GBSS) is a national
charity providing free information on GBS for
families and health professionals.
GBSS wants all pregnant women to be fully
informed about GBS and offered sensitive testing
on the NHS.
Group B Strep Support
Preventing life-threatening group B Strep
infection in newborn babies
PO Box 203, Haywards Heath,
West Sussex RH16 1GF
E-mail: info@gbss.org.uk
Tel: 01444 416176
Fax: 0870 803 0024
www.gbss.org.uk
(Free downloadable information)
Regd charity No: 1112065 Regd company No: 5587535

Why test for GBS?
Offering antibiotics in labour to Mums who
test positive for GBS in pregnancy plus to those
whose babies are at higher risk of developing GBS
infection will prevent more newborn GBS infection
than the current standard prevention method
(offering antibiotics in labour only to Mums with
recognised risk factors). Without testing for GBS
carriage in the pregnancy, using sensitive tests,
most of the Mums whose babies will be at risk of
GBS infection won't be identified, so no
preventative action can be taken.
Other countries, including the USA, Canada,
Belgium, Spain and Australia, have introduced
routine sensitive testing and have seen the
incidence of GBS infection in newborn babies
plummet. This should happen in the UK. Until it
does, GBSS supports the Royal College of
Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ risk based
guidelines.
How do I get an ECM test?
A small but growing number of NHS Trusts offer ECM testing and a postal service is
available privately. The test pack, processing the swabs and sending you the results will
cost approximately £32. Obtain your GBS test pack from:
By telephone
Web
The Doctor’s Laboratory: 020 7307 7373 www.tdlpathology.com/gbs
Text ‘GBS’ to 88020
Blue Horizon Medicals 0800 098 8751 www.bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk
Mumstuff on 0845 009 0607
www.mumstuff.co.uk
Medisave on 0871 288 4380
www.medisave.co.uk
Online
For the latest on sensitive testing, visit www.gbss.org.uk/test
The above undertake to follow the Health Protection Agency’s BSOP58 for processing swabs
for GBS. GBSS provides their contact details – we don't have the resources to check their
performance in terms of speed or accuracy. If you would like to provide us with feedback on
the services provided, please do so.
What are the symptoms of GBS infection in babies?
Typical signs of GBS infection in a newborn baby
include grunting; poor feeding; being abnormally
drowsy (lethargic) or irritable, having a high/low
temperature, heart rate and/or breathing rate.
After the first week, typical signs may include
one or more of: high temperature, possibly with
cold hands and feet; vomiting, refusing feeds or
poor feeding; high pitched moaning, whimpering
cry; blank, staring or trance-like expression; pale,
blotchy skin; floppy, may dislike being handled, be
fretful; difficult to wake or lethargic; tense of bulging
fontanelle; turning away from bright light; altered
breathing pattern and/or involuntary stiff body or
jerking movements.
If a baby shows any of the above signs, the GP
should be called immediately or the baby should
be taken to the nearest Paediatric Accident &
Emergency Department. Early diagnosis and
treatment is essential – delay can be fatal.
GBSS January 2011