Opening Statement:
Group B Strep (G.B.S.) if infected during a women’s pregnancy can contaminate the urinary tract, placenta, womb, and amniotic fluid. G.B.S. stands for Group B Streptococcus. This is bacteria that is found in the intestine, vagina, and rectum in about 25% of all healthy pregnant women. Newborn babies and adults can be infected by group B strep and most pregnant women who have the bacteria have no symptoms. This infection can also be passed to babies during labor and delivery. Prenatal-onset G.B.S. Disease Recognition Month occurs every October. It was initiated by Group B Strep International. The three types of G.B.S. are prenatal-onset, early-onset, and late-onset but prenatal-onset is often overlooked or not recognized.
History of Prenatal-onset GBS Disease Recognition Month
· Prenatal-onset G.B.S. Disease Recognition Month aims to promote awareness that group B strep (G.B.S.) can infect babies even before birth. It is sponsored by Group B Strep International. In April 2006, Group B Strep International was formed. It was created by John MacDonald and Marti Perhach who each lost a daughter to group B strep. It began as a national project in conjunction with a sister organization but then expanded its scope and the audience of the campaign worldwide.
· Early-onset (birth through the first week of life) and late-onset (after the first week of life to several months of age) are the two types of G.B.S. disease that current medical literature acknowledges. However, babies are also susceptible to group B strep during pregnancy.
· It was in the late 1880s that G.B.S. was first recognized as a pathogen by Edmond Nocard and Mollereau. In 1938, three fatal cases of puerperal infections caused by G.B.S. were reported. This was the first mention of the significance of G.B.S. as a human pathogen. By the early 1960s, G.B.S. was recognized as the main cause of infections in newborns.
· Generally, G.B.S. is a harmless bacterium that is part of the human microbiota colonizing the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts of up to 30% of healthy human adults. In the western world, G.B.S. is the main cause of bacterial infections in newborns, such as sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis. This can lead to death or long-term after-effects.
· Fortunately, early-onset G.B.S. fatality rates have declined, from 50% observed in studies from the 1970s to between two and 10% in recent years.
· In 2000–2001, the reported overall incidence of G.B.S. infection in newborn babies in the U.K. was 0.72 per 1,000 live births. Today, the mortality associated with early-onset G.B.S. E.O.D. in the U.S. is 2.1% among term newborns and 19.2% among preterm newborns.
· In the United States and Canada, the rate of early-onset infection reduced by more than half from 0.7 cases per 1000 live births in the U.S in 1997. In 2004, it reduced to 0.32 cases per 1,000 live births.
· Even though group B strep can infect babies before birth, Prenatal-onset G.B.S. is not yet a widely-known disease. There are no official statistics on how many babies have been miscarried or stillborn due to G.B.S. It is believed that the reason prenatal-onset G.B.S. disease has not been officially recognized is that general medical opinion considers G.B.S.-caused miscarriages and stillbirths to be rare occurrences.
Frequently Asked Questions
· What Is Late-Onset G.B.S?
Late-onset G.B.S. can occur after the first week of life to several months of age. Symptoms include coughing or congestion, trouble eating, fever, drowsiness, or seizures.
· Can G.B.S. Cause Preterm Labor?
G.B.S. infection during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, early (premature) labor, or stillbirth. However, this is rare.
· What Is the Procedure If I Test Positive for Group B Strep When Pregnant?
You will need treatment to prevent an infection that could affect your baby.
How to Observe Prenatal-onset GBS Disease Recognition Month
· Donate To the Cause
Donate whatever you can to Group B Strep International. This enables them to achieve their mission of promoting awareness and prevention of group B strep disease.
· Organize A Fundraiser
Take the initiative to arrange a fundraiser to make better resources on group B strep disease available. The funds raised by your community can help in spreading much-needed awareness.
· Spread The Message
Post on social media or talk to other parents or pregnant women. You can use the hashtag #starttheGBSconversation to educate more people about the disease.
5 Facts About Group B Strep
1. One In Four Pregnant Women Carry G.B.S.
About one in four pregnant women carry G.B.S. bacteria in their bodies.
2. There May Be No Symptoms
People may be asymptomatic which means G.B.S. bacteria may come and go in people’s bodies without symptoms.
3. It Can Likely Cause Meningitis
In the United States, the leading cause of meningitis and bloodstream infections in a newborn’s first three months of life is G.B.S. bacteria.
4. Newborns Of Infected Mothers Are At Risk
If the mother tests positive during pregnancy, the risk of newborns getting G.B.S. disease increases.
5. The Bacteria Will Grow Back Quickly
Pregnant women must take antibiotics during labor to prevent early-onset of G.B.S. disease in newborns; the antibiotics only help during labor because the bacteria grow back quickly.
Closing Statement:
Knowledge about prenatal-onset G.B.S. is something that every parent-to-be should have and be aware of. Knowledge about this condition can help us make better and healthier choices as future parents. Most individuals and soon to be parents are still unaware of even the existence of G.B.S. Any information on it is life-saving and should be shared widely because it helps us become better informed parents. This initiative benefits people across the world. Group B Strep International is also developing G.B.S. awareness and prevention resources for countries that do not have any readily available programs. This can be a blessing for so many families out there world-wide.
Source of Information: Various Google Searches
Until Next Week, Stay Safe and Well!
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