Group B Hemolytic Streptococcal ‘Infection’ and Pregnancy

Group B hemolytic streptococcal bacteria are found in many women’s lower genital tract.This is normal and entirely harmless to the woman. Until she becomes pregnant. It is therefore the case that for a woman having this type of bacteria cannot be legitimately labeled to have an ‘infection’. It is a normal bacteria for the genital tract, like several other bacteria types that reside there. However, for the baby that is to pass through that genital tract; it is a different matter entirely. We shall see why very shortly.

Streptococcus bacteria

There is a group of bacteria known as Streptococcus. The name comes from the fact that the shape of each one is oval (coccus) and they tend to appear in chains or strips (strepto). They are called ‘hemolytic’ because when cultured in a laboratory dish, they will tend to cause the break-up of blood cells, a process called hemolysis.

Streptococcal bacteria are divided in several groups including A, B, C, D, G and R. We shall only concern ourselves with Group B and (very briefly) A. So you know.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS)

The full name is Group B beta-hemolytic Streptoccus. Up to a third of all adult women are believed to carry these bacteria in the vagina and it does them no harm at all. The vaginal tract, like the oral cavity, is normally home to a variety of bacteria and that is not always evidence of disease. It is normal.

For some women, the bacteria in the vagina include Group B Streptoccus or GBS as is otherwise known. Except in a situation where the woman’s immune system is compromised, the presence of GBS would not be regarded as clinically significant and no treatment is therefore required.

Group B strep only becomes significant for a woman once she becomes pregnant. There is, then, the risk of passing on the bacteria to her newborn at the time of delivery. Unlike the mother, the baby will be vulnerable and therefore at risk of infection which can be quite serious. The infection in the newborn could present early or late.

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An actual slide of streptococci bacteria. The chain of oval bacteria can be clearly seen