Group B Streptococcus (GBS)

Hospitals & Locations > Tri-State Maternal-Fetal Medicine Associates > Common Pregnancy Concerns > Group B Streptococcus (GBS)

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.

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