Group B Streptococcus GBS is a bacteria that resides in the birth canal and/or perianal region of 30 percent of healthy women.
Important information to remember about this disease:
- It is not a sexually transmitted disease.
- It may be passed to your baby during labor. The chance of your baby being infected is 1 in 200 without intrapartum antibiotics.
- We follow the Centers for Disease Control and American College of Obstetricians’ and Gynecologists’ recommendations to obtain a vaginal/anal culture for Group B streptococcus in all of our patients between 35 to 37 weeks gestation.
- You will be notified of the result at your next visit.
- If you are identified as a Group B streptococcal carrier, you will receive intravenous antibiotics in labor.
- You will be given antibiotics in labor and not be screened if you have had a previous infant with a Group B streptococcal infection or a prior urinary tract infection with Group B streptococcus.