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Group B Strep
Posted on 8 February, 2018 at 16:25 |
What is group B Strep?
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Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a normal bacterium which is carried by 20-40% of adults, most commonly in the gut, and for up to 25% of women, in the vagina, usually without symptoms or side-effects.
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GBS can occasionally cause infection, most commonly in newborn babies, sometimes in adults and, very rarely, during pregnancy and before labour.
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GBS is not a sexually transmitted disease. Treatment of a woman and her partner carrying GBS does not prevent re-colonisation.
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There are two types of GBS infection in newborns: early and late-onset:
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Early-onset GBS infection is more common (approximately 2/3 of cases in babies) and occurs when the baby is up to 6 days old; a key symptom is the rapid development of breathing problems, associated with blood poisoning.
Late-onset GBS infection – usually presenting as sepsis and meningitis – occurs between age 7 days and up to age 3 months. After 3 months’ old, GBS infection in babies is extremely rare.
GBS is recognised to cause preterm delivery, maternal infections, stillbirths and late miscarriages; preterm babies are known to be at particular risk of GBS infection as their immune systems are not as well developed.
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Overall, even with current prevention strategies, approximately 1 in every 1,000 babies born in the UK develops group B Strep infection.
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On average in the UK, at least
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two babies a day develop a group B Strep infection
one baby a week dies from their GBS infection, and
one baby a week survives with long-term disabilities – physical, mental or both.
For more information about the incidence of GBS bacteraemia (blood infection) in babies aged 0-90 days in England, Wales & Northern Ireland, cl
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Where to get an ECM test
The ECM test (Enriched Culture Medium test) is the international ‘gold standard’ for detecting group B Strep carriage. Find out where you can order your home testing kit today.
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Current UK guidance about GBS
In the UK, all pregnant women are not routinely offered testing for group B Strep carriage, unlike in many other developed countries. Sensitive tests for GBS carriage are not widely available within the NHS, though they are available privately from less than £40.
For More info please click on the following link https://gbss.org.uk/info-support/pregnancy-and-birth/what-is-group-b-strep/
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