July is International Group B Strep Awareness Month
International Group B Strep Awareness Month is observed throughout July to raise awareness among healthcare providers, parents and future parents, and anyone involved in perinatal research about Group B Strep (GBS).
GBS is a type of bacteria that naturally exists in the gut and lower reproductive tracts of both men and women. However, if found in babies and infants, GBS leads to sepsis and meningitis. It is actually one of the most serious infections that cause newborn illness and death worldwide.
Approximately one in four pregnant women carry GBS! Studies show that babies can be infected by GBS before birth and up to about six months of age due to their poorly developed immune systems.
In addition to being more likely than other new moms to give birth prematurely or have a stillbirth, babies born from mothers with GBS can develop sepsis within hours or days after birth—and some may die as a result. Other complications include pneumonia, meningitis (an infection of the membrane covering the brain), hearing loss, vision problems, or intellectual disabilities—all caused by an overwhelming immune response triggered by this bacterium.
Facts About Group B Strep
Rates of serious group B strep (GBS) infections are higher among newborns, but anyone can get GBS disease. Below are some important facts about GBS in babies, pregnant women, and others, according to the CDC:
GBS in Babies
In the United States, GBS bacteria are a leading cause of meningitis and bloodstream infections in a newborn’s first three months of life. In the US on average each year, about 930 babies get early-onset GBS, and about 1,050 babies get late-onset GBS.
Newborns are at increased risk for GBS disease if their mother tests positive for the bacteria during pregnancy. 2 to 3 in every 50 babies (4–6%) who develop GBS disease die.
Among babies, there are 2 main types of GBS disease:
- Early-onset – occurs during the first week of life
- Late-onset – occurs from the first week through three months of life
Early-onset disease used to be the most common type of GBS disease in babies. Today, because of effective early-onset disease prevention, early- and late-onset diseases occur at similarly low rates.
GBS in Pregnant Women
- About 1 in 4 pregnant women carry GBS bacteria in their body.
- Doctors should test pregnant woman for GBS bacteria when they are 36 through 37 weeks pregnant.
- Giving pregnant women antibiotics through the vein (IV) during labor can prevent most early-onset GBS disease in newborns.
- A pregnant woman who tests positive for GBS bacteria and gets antibiotics during labor has only a 1 in 4,000 chance of delivering a baby who will develop GBS disease. If she does not receive antibiotics during labor, her chance of delivering a baby who will develop GBS disease is 1 in 200.
- Pregnant women cannot take antibiotics to prevent early-onset GBS disease in newborns before labor. The bacteria can grow back quickly. The antibiotics only help during labor.
GBS in Other Ages and Groups
- GBS bacteria may come and go in people’s bodies without symptoms.
- On average, about 1 in 20 non-pregnant adults with serious GBS infections die.
- The rate of serious group B strep disease increases with age:
- There are 10 cases in every 100,000 non-pregnant adults each year.
- There are 25 cases in every 100,000 adults 65 years or older each year.
- The average age of cases in non-pregnant adults is about 60 years old.
What Causes GBS?
Bacteria called group B Streptococcus (group B strep, GBS) commonly live in people’s gastrointestinal and genital tracts. The gastrointestinal tract is the part of the body that digests food and includes the stomach and intestines. The genital tract is the part of the body involved in reproduction and includes the vagina in women. Most of the time the bacteria are not harmful and do not make people feel sick or have any symptoms. Sometimes the bacteria invade the body and cause certain infections, which are known as GBS disease.
Group B Strep can cause many types of infections:
- Bacteremia (bloodstream infection) and sepsis (the body’s extreme response to an infection)
- Bone and joint infections
- Meningitis (infection of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord)
- Pneumonia (lung infection)
- Skin and soft-tissue infections
GBS most commonly causes bacteremia, sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis in newborns. It is very uncommon for GBS to cause meningitis in adults.
Who Are At Risk For Group B Strep?
Anyone can get group B strep (GBS) disease, but some people are at greater risk than others. Being a certain age or having certain medical conditions can put you at increased risk for GBS disease.
GBS disease is most common in newborns. There are factors that can increase a pregnant woman’s risk of having a baby who will develop GBS disease, including:
- Testing positive for GBS bacteria late in pregnancy
- Developing a fever during labor
- Having 18 hours or more pass between when their water breaks and when their baby is born
- Talk to your doctor or midwife to learn more and find out if you are at risk.
In adults, most cases of GBS disease are among those who have other medical conditions. Other medical conditions that put adults at increased risk include:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Congestive heart failure
- Cancer or history of cancer
- Obesity
Risk for serious GBS disease increases as people get older. Adults 65 years or older are at increased risk compared to adults younger than 65 years old.
How Does Group B Strep Spread?
GBS bacteria commonly live in people’s gastrointestinal and genital tracts. The gastrointestinal tract is the part of the body that digests food and includes the stomach and intestines. The genital tract is the part of the body involved in reproduction and includes the vagina in women.
The bacteria do not spread through food, water, or anything that people might have come into contact with. How people get these bacteria or spread them to others is generally unknown.
However, experts know that pregnant women can pass the bacteria to their babies during delivery. Most babies who get GBS disease in the first week of life (early-onset) are exposed to the bacteria this way. Babies who develop GBS disease from the first week through three months of life have late-onset disease. It can be hard to figure out how babies who develop late-onset GBS disease got the bacteria. The bacteria may have come from the mother during birth or from another source.
Other people that live with someone who has GBS bacteria, including other children, are not at risk of getting sick.
History of International Group B Strep Awareness Month
Strep bacteria can be classified as Group A Streptococcus and Group B Streptococcus. GBS exists harmlessly in the gastrointestinal and genital tracts of adults but it can be dangerous when it infects newborns. It may lead to serious illnesses like bacteremia and sepsis, bone and joint infections, meningitis, and pneumonia.
In the United States, GBS is a serious menace. It is the most common cause of neonatal sepsis, meningitis, and other infections. Pregnant women are screened for it during the third trimester. GBS can move from the lower GI tract and vaginal canal toward the cervix and the uterus to affect gestational tissues. Then it may invade the amniotic sac and cause inflammation of the placenta. This can not only induce preterm delivery and stillbirth but also cause damage and injury to fetal organs.
If detected in time, GBS infections can be prevented. Doctors prescribe prophylactic antibiotics to pregnant women to prevent any severe damage to the fetus. But unfortunately, this treatment also has several side effects. Perinatal antibiotic exposure may hinder the development of a healthy microbiome and weaken the infant’s immune system. Although prophylactic antibiotic use may prevent dangerous outcomes from GBS, it also makes the body more susceptible to the other forms of Streptococcus. GBS infection can also be prevented by various immune responses in the vaginal and intestinal epithelium and mucosa. A healthy immune response is vital to a baby so it’s important to look for treatments that do not disrupt their natural immunity.
Observing International Group B Strep Awareness Month
If you or anyone you know has struggled with GBS, encourage them to share their stories. This creates a support group and a pool of resources to help fight the disease. You can also organize fundraising drives for GBS awareness. Donate the money to hospitals, research centers, and families who are struggling to foot medical bills.
You can volunteer to raise awareness and spread information among your family, friends, and coworkers about GBS and its effects on babies and infants.
Sources:
https://gbss.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-and-raise-awareness/group-b-strep-awareness-month/
https://nationaltoday.com/international-group-b-strep-awareness-month/
https://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/about/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/about/transmission-risks.html