What is streptococcus in pregnancy?

In connection with pregnancy, mothers-to-be or pregnant women are looking for a lot of practical and interesting information. Including pregnancy symptoms and possible complications that pregnancy brings with it. Complications can include streptococcal infection, which represents a great unknown for future mothers. First of all, your gynecologist should give you an explanation about this phenomenon during pregnancy. What is it about? And is streptococcus dangerous in pregnancy? Is an examination for group B streptococcus done during pregnancy?

Streptococci are a group of bacteria that cause various diseases, for example a relatively common disease such as angina. In connection with pregnancy, a special category of group B streptococci - streptococcus agalactiae - is used. These bacteria are normally part of the vaginal flora and the digestive tract. Therefore, they normally pose no risk and, together with other bacteria, create a balance and stomach microbiome. Their proliferation in the vagina during pregnancy and especially before childbirth can be a problem.

The vaginal flora can be weakened during this period, therefore group B streptococci can mean a risk. However, not for the woman herself, but for the fetus. During childbirth, the child can become infected while passing through the birth canal, and such an infection can be very dangerous for the newborn. Before giving birth, the so-called GBS screening (vaginal swab), which detects the presence of this bacteria. Such an examination is performed between the 35th and 37th week. If the doctor does not offer it to you, you have the opportunity to request such an examination - testing for the presence of streptococcus. The reproduction and infection of streptococcus is in most cases asymptomatic, but it represents a great risk for the child.

When the group B streptococcus proliferates in the vagina during childbirth, serious health problems can appear in the newborn, which manifest themselves several weeks or months after birth. It can be meningitis, sepsis or pneumonia.

If the examination shows the proliferation of this bacterium, the doctor will administer antibiotic treatment to the woman before giving birth, immediately several hours (3 to 4 hours) before giving birth. These are intravenous local antibiotics that enter the child's body through the blood and placenta, and subsequently the child acquires the ability to defend against these bacteria. Most women who had a positive test before giving birth also talk about this procedure. Sometimes, however, it can happen that antibiotics do not have time to take effect.

Streptococcus B occurs in 20 to 30% of cases of pregnancy. Based on the result of the examination, the treatment procedure is determined. If the woman has no problems and the streptococcal infection occurs without symptoms, the treatment begins only before the birth with the aforementioned intravenous antibiotics. If a caesarean section is planned, antibiotics do not need to be given. The ideal prevention is the strengthening of immunity and a healthy diet.

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