Key facts about Group B Strep
Most group B Strep infection in newborn babies can be prevented by identifying the mums likely to be carrying group B Strep in labour and giving them intravenous antibiotics at the start of labour and at regular intervals until birth.
Routine testing of all pregnant women in the UK for group B Strep carriage is not currently recommended by the UK National Screening Committee.
Intravenous antibiotics are highly effective at preventing group B Strep infection in newborn babies when given as soon as possible once labour starts to Mums carrying group B Strep.
How do I know if I am carrying group B Strep?
Most people don’t know if they carry group B Strep, as there are no symptoms. Those who do, often find out as a result of tests taken for other reasons. Antenatal testing of pregnant women is not currently recommended in the UK, but testing is the only way to establish whether you’re carrying group B Strep.
Carrying group B Strep late in pregnancy does not mean your baby will develop group B Strep infection, but it does mean your baby has a higher risk ( 1 in 300) of doing so than if you were not a carrier. If Mums know they carry group B Strep and have the appropriate antibiotics in labour, that chance falls to less than one in 6,000. If your baby has been ill with a group B Strep infection or you have sadly lost a baby through group B Strep which you believe has been as a result of medical errors during your pregnancy, labour or shortly after your baby’s birth and would like a no obligation discussion, please contact Elizabeth Smith on 01752 292309 or esmith@wolferstans.com