Pregnancy and bacterial infections

Group B streptococci (GBS) are common bacteria that can be found in the digestive tract and in the vagina. GBS infections are usually benign and can be easily treated with antibiotics. 

Approximately 15 to 40 percent of pregnant women experience GBS colonisation. Between 30 and 70 percent of these women will transmit the bacteria to their child during delivery. Most babies will not be affected, although 1 to 2 percent will develop an infection with GBS. 

A distinction is made between early infections (in the first week of life) and late infections, which can occur several weeks after birth. Infected babies may develop serious infections (of the blood or brain) that will be treated with antibiotics.

It is possible to prevent early neonatal infections with GBS by screening pregnant women (near the end of pregnancy) to see whether they are carriers. This screening takes the form of a vaginal/anorectal smear. Pregnant women colonised with GBS will be treated with antibiotics during delivery to prevent any contamination of the newborn baby at birth.