"I never heard of GBS before, but my doctor told me anyone could carry these bacteria."

If you are pregnant—or know anyone who is—you need to learn about “group B strep”. Group B streptococcal bacteria (also called GBS, group B strep, or baby strep) are a type of bacteria that can cause serious illness and death in newborns.

Group B strep is the most common cause of sepsis (blood infection) and meningitis (infection of the fluid and lining around the brain) in newborns. Until recent screening guidelines, thousands of cases of disease used to occur each year. The good news is that most cases can now be prevented.

Preventing Group B Strep

An easy swab of the vagina and rectum when a woman is 35 to 37 weeks pregnant (9th month) can show whether she is a ‘carrier’ for group B strep. About 1 in 4 women are carriers of this type of bacteria—the bacteria are found in their bodies without making them feel sick. It is not a sexually transmitted disease, and it is not spread from food or water.

	"I talked with my doctor and made a plan for labor. It helps put my mind at ease to be prepared."

The bacteria can be passed from the mother to the baby during labor. For women whose tests show the bacteria during pregnancy, antibiotics given during labor can prevent group B strep disease in babies.

WHAT YOU CAN DO BEFORE LABOR

• Ask your doctor for a GBS test when you are 35 to 37 weeks pregnant (9th month).

• If you are allergic to penicillin or other antibiotics, make sure to tell your doctor or nurse about any reactions you have had.

• If your test shows that you carry the bacteria, talk with your doctor about a plan for labor.

• Continue your regular check-ups, and always call your doctor or nurse if you have any problems.

MMWR: most recent screening and treatment guidelines