Group B Streptococcus (GBS), or Streptococcus agalactiae, is a type of bacteria that is naturally found in the digestive and lower reproductive tracts of both men and women.  About 1 in 4 pregnant women “carry” or are “colonized” with GBS.

Carrying GBS does not mean that you are unclean.  Anyone can carry GBS. GBS is not considered to be a sexually transmitted disease or infection as it can occur on its own even in someone with no prior sexual experience. However, bacteria can be passed between sexual partners, including through oral contact.

The awareness month for group B strep is July. This is a common bacterium that affects adults and it does not present with any symptoms or signs. The pregnant women can pass these bacteria to their unborn children during the first few months after delivery or during child birth and this can be fatal. Most people who suffer from this bacterial infection are not aware of it and pregnant women get to know about it because of the screening that is done during prenatal visits. The screening tests is usually done during the third trimester and this test was started in the mid 1990s. Research indicates that since that time, the number of children who are affected by this infection has dropped from 1.7 to 0.28 in every 1000 births.

This month helps in raising awareness to women who are pregnant and those who are in the child rearing period to prevent Group B Strep infection. This helps women to keep their unborn babies healthy and safe as the infection can be fatal.

The National Charity that is associated with group B strep advices all pregnant women to be aware of this infection caused by streptococcus group B. This is the most common type of infection in new born babies as it causes meningitis, pneumonia and sepsis which can be fatal in the first few weeks of life. The bacterium is carried by women who do not present with any symptoms and therefore it can be easily passed to the baby during child birth.

The main message that is shared on this month awareness is that Group B Strep is fatal and that the infection can be prevented. People are taught on the need to go for testing as the bacterial colonization can be carried by people in the vagina or the lower intestines. Most people are carriers of this infection but they are not aware because they have never been tested for the same. This is because the infection does not present with any signs or symptoms. However, in some cases, the infection can get access into the blood stream and this can trigger fatal infections. When a pregnant woman gets this infection it can be spread to the unborn baby in the following ways:

While the baby is still in the womb, during a normal or a cesarean section birth, through the urinary tract or amniotic fluid, or through direct contact with the bacteria that is present in the birth canal.

The infants who are infected by this bacterium during birth are prone to infections and this includes meningitis, pneumonia and sepsis. The children who survive this infection are at risk of getting long term complications especially in cases where they suffered from meningitis. The common complications that can occur include cerebral palsy, hearing loss, mental and physical disabilities.

Pregnant women should be aware of the need for testing for each pregnancy and it does not matter whether they were tested for the previous pregnancies. This is because all pregnancies are different and it is vital to ensure that the baby is safe in all pregnancies.