Introduction:
A group B Streptococcus, or group B strep or GBS, results in GBS or group B strep disease. GBS bacteria are frequently found in the gastrointestinal and genital tract of the person.
What Is Group B Strep?
Group B strep infection occurs due to bacteria usually found in a person's vagina, rectal area, or gastrointestinal tract. Around 25 percent of pregnant people have GBS but remain unaware due to its asymptomatic nature. A pregnant woman with GBS can pass the bacteria to the baby during delivery.
Infants, older adults, or people with weak or less developed immune systems are more prone to complications from group B strep. Many newborns who get GBS do not become ill, but the bacteria can result in causing adverse and sometimes life-threatening infections in some infants. Group B strep test is a part of routine prenatal care. In case of positive tests, antibiotics are prescribed to treat them.
How Is Group B Strep Caught?
Group B strep bacteria occurs naturally in the body, like the intestinal, genital, and urinary tracts. This infection is usually not seen in adults as it does not spread from person-to-person contact or from sharing eatables or drinkables with an infected person. It cannot be clearly said how the bacteria spread, but it has the potential to cause harm to infants and people with weak immune systems. A baby can get caught in Group B strep in two ways:
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Early-Onset Infection: Many babies (around 75 percent) with GBS get infected in the first week of life. GBS infection is frequently seen within a few hours after birth. Premature babies have more risk if they become infected, but most babies who catch GBS are full-term babies.
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Late-Onset Infection: GBS infection can be seen in infants one week after birth or three months later. Late-onset infection is less frequently seen, and there are fewer chances of it resulting in a fatal condition than early-onset infection.
What Are the Symptoms of Group B Strep?
Most adults remain asymptomatic while having group B strep. It might show symptoms in older people or people with some medical conditions, but this is less frequent. The symptoms of group B strep seen in adults are:
Symptoms seen in newborns with GBS are:
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Fever.
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Difficulty while feeding.
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Irritability.
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Breathing difficulties.
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Lack of energy.
These symptoms can turn into critical conditions as newborns lack immunity. Group B strep infection cause adverse issues like sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis in newborns.
Why Is A Group B Strep Test Done?
Group B strep is done in pregnant women most frequently during routine examinations. A woman is examined for GBS between 36 and 37 weeks of pregnancy. Group B strep test is also done in newborns susceptible to the disease and shows signs of infection such as fever, chills, difficulty breathing or feeding, etc.
How Is A Group B Strep Test Performed?
Group B strep is done in pregnant women frequently through urine or a swab sample in the following way:
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Swab Test: A person is made to lie on their back on an examination table. A small cotton swab is used to withdraw a sample of cells and fluids from the vagina and rectum.
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Urine Test: A urine test is done chiefly following a "clean catch method" to have a sterile sample. It is done in the following way:
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Clean the hands properly.
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Clean the genital area thoroughly from front to back with a cotton swab.
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Take the sample in a box by urinating in it.
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One or two ounces of urine should be collected.
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Submit the sample to the concerned person.
When the testing is done in an infant, it is done via a blood test or a spinal tap. It can be done in the following ways:
- Blood Test: A small needle is used to withdraw a blood sample from the child's heel. After the insertion of a needle, a small amount of blood is withdrawn and collected in a test tube or vial. A little sting is felt when the needle goes in or out.
- Spinal Tap: Spinal tap, also called a lumbar puncture, is a test performed with the help of a spinal fluid (a clear liquid surrounding the brain and spinal cord). To perform this following steps are followed:
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A baby is held in a curled-up position.
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The back of the baby is cleaned, and an anesthetic is injected into the skin so that the baby does not feel pain while extracting a sample. A numbing cream is also applied on the back of the baby before the insertion of the needle.
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A sedative or a pain reliever also might be given to the baby so that he tolerates the process.
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Once the area on the back turns numb, a thin, hollow needle is inserted between two vertebrae (small backbones that form the spine) in the lower spine.
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A small amount of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) is collected for the test.
What Does the Strep Test Result Mean?
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In case of positive results in a pregnant woman with GBS bacteria, antibiotics are provided intravenously (directly to the veins) at the time of labor, four hours before the delivery. This will help in the prevention of passing the bacteria to the baby. Taking antibiotics earlier in pregnancy is not helpful because the bacteria has the potential to grow back too quickly. Antibiotics are more effective when taken intravenously despite taking orally.
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Antibiotics are not required in a planned Cesarean section (C-section) delivery. During a C-section, a baby is delivered through the mother's abdomen instead of vaginally. However, tests should be conducted during pregnancy.
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In case a GBS test comes positive in an infant, antibiotics are administered.
Conclusion:
A strep test is frequently done in pregnant women to detect the group B strep bacteria. Group B strep infection occurs due to bacteria found in the vagina or rectal area, or gastrointestinal tract of a person. A strep test is done by taking a sample from urine or a vaginal swab. In infants, the sample is taken from blood or CSF. Antibiotics are administered in case of positive results for a strep test.
