Pregnancy
Strep - B
- What is Group B Streptococcus (GBS)?
Most GBS infections can be prevented by giving all women with GBS intravenous antibiotics at the onset of labour, as well as to those delivering prematurely or with a history of GBS.
This recommended use of antibiotics reduces the likelihood of early onset GBS infection developing in a baby born to a woman carrying a GBS at the time of delivery from around 1 in 300 to less than 1 in 6000.
Oral antibiotics given for GBS colonisation have not been shown to effective at preventing GBS infection in babies, but intravenous antibiotics in labour are highly effective.
There are always small but possibly serious risks associated with taking antibiotics, and management and treatment need to be fully discussed.
- Detecting a GBS carrier
Screening for GBS is not routinely done in the UK or Ireland but is routinely undertaken at The Doctors Laboratory, MedLab Pathology’s sister laboratory.
The method for testing is an enriched culture medium (EMC) specifically designed for the isolation of GBS in swabs.
Two swabs (lower vaginal and rectal) need to be cultured at 35-37 week’s gestation to best predict colonisation with GBS around the time of delivery.
The Facts Concerning GBS
GBS is the most common cause of bacterial infection in newborn babies in the UK and Ireland.
Babies are usually exposed to GBS shortly before or during birth. It is not understood why some babies are susceptible to the bacteria and develop infection, whilst others do not.
What is clear, however, is that most GBS infections in newborn babies can be prevented by giving women in higher risk circumstances intravenous antibiotics from the onset of labour until the baby is born.
- What should be done next?
Testing for GBS can be discussed with the midwife, Obstetrician or GP with an understanding of what should happen if GBS is isolated.
Effective management with intravenous antibiotics at the time of delivery in newborn babies.
- Procedure for testing
Screening for GBS needs to be undertaken between 35-37 weeks.
Two swabs need to be taken and accompanied by a completed request form showing
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- Patients name, address and date of birth.
- Name and full address, phone and/or fax number of Midwife and/or Obstetrician to whom results will be sent.
- Gestation (weeks)
- The cost of the swab test is 60 Euro.
- Taking the sample
Label swab tubes correctly by writing:
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- Name, date of birth, location of each swab (lower vaginal without spectrum, or rectal).
Lower vaginal swab
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- Remove blue capped swab from packet.
- Remove the white cap from the transport medium tube and throw away.
- Insert swab into lower vagina by not more than 2-4 cm. A speculum should not be used.
- Rub lower vagina gently with swab, round the front, sides and back of vagina.
- Withdraw swab and place into transport medium provided by MedLab Pathology. Ensure the blue cap is sealed securely.
The Facts Concerning GBS (cont)
Rectal swab:
- Remove blue capped swab from packet.
- Remove the white cap from the transport medium tube and throw away.
- Insert swab gently into the anus so that not more than 1-2 cm of the swab is in rectum.
- Withdraw swab and place in transport medium in the tube provided by MedLab Pathology. Ensure the blue cap is sealed securely.
The swabs and request form need to be sent to MedLab Pathology in the post paid padded reply envelope provided. The result of the test will be available within 5 working days of receipt of swabs. Results will be sent to the referring healthcare professional showing whether GBS has been isolated (positive) or not (not isolated).
Cost of GBS Screening
- 60.00 Euro (this includes the request form, postal pathology pack containing 2 swabs in non-nutritive transport medium, post paid padded envelope and laboratory testing service).
- How to request GBS Screening Pack(s)
Ask anyone of the team at The Women’s Health Group.