Screening for Group B Streptococcus is part of the individual health services during pregnancy. However, it is recommended for all expectant mothers, as B streptococci are the most common pathogens causing neonatal infections. But where do streptococci during pregnancy actually come from, and how can you prevent your newborn from becoming infected? We have the answers to these and other important questions about streptococcus.

Where do streptococci come from during pregnancy?

During your Pregnancy , it is not unusual to find that you carry B streptococci—this is the case for about 5 to 30 percent of all pregnant women. Medical professionals even assume that B streptococci can be found in the bodies of around one-third of all adults. This bacterial species occurs naturally in our bodies. Group B Streptococci – short GBS – primarily settle in the anal area but can also enter the vagina through smear infection. For us adults, an infection with B streptococci is harmless. It progresses without symptoms, which is why it can only be detected through a test performed by a doctor. The situation is different for babies: For newborns, group B streptococcus can be quite dangerous and lead to serious illnesses.

How can the pathogen be transmitted to babies?

If you, as an expectant mother, carry Group B streptococcus, it can already be transmitted to your baby in the womb . Once your amniotic sac breaks, the streptococci can ascend into the amniotic fluid and be swallowed by your baby. In your baby's body, they then migrate to the gastrointestinal tract and reach the lungs with the first breath. There, they can cause significant problems and pose a major challenge to your little one's immune system.

These risk factors increase the likelihood of infection in the newborn :

• B streptococci are detected in the urine of the pregnant woman.

• The B streptococcus screening of the vagina and anus indicates an infection.

• During a severe streptococcal infection, the expectant mother develops a fever of at least 38°C during childbirth.

• In previous pregnancies, the pregnant woman has already infected a child.

• Up to 12 hours can pass between the water breaking and the birth.
  
  

How and when is the streptococcus test performed during pregnancy?

A B streptococcus screening is performed toward the end of pregnancy and is recommended from the 35th week of pregnancy .

The streptococcus swab during pregnancy is performed by your gynecologist. It involves taking a swab from the vagina and the anus . The swabs are sent to the laboratory, and you will usually receive the results within a week. The result of the streptococcus test will also be noted in your Mother's Pass .

Basically, the GBS screening counts as a Preventive examination among the individual health services , short IGeL. This means that you will have to pay the costs of around 30 euros yourself if you decide to take the test.

How dangerous are B streptococci for newborns?

If your newborn is infected with Group B Streptococcus in the womb or during birth, mild illnesses can occur, but so can severe conditions such as sepsis, pneumonia, or meningitis. These conditions always require intensive care. In medicine, a distinction is made between an early form and a late form of streptococcal infection:

• Early form : Around two-thirds of all GBS infections in newborns are due to the early form. The symptoms of the infection become apparent immediately after Birth , but at the latest within the first 7 days of your baby's life. It results in blood poisoning—the so-called neonatal sepsis or early-onset sepsis—or pneumonia, which is medically termed pneumonia.

• Late form : The effects and symptoms of streptococcal transmission only become apparent between the second and sixth week of your baby's life . Here, medicine refers to late-onset sepsis. In rare cases, the infection manifests even later, up to three months after birth. This form of streptococcal infection mainly causes meningitis, which is referred to in medicine as meningitis.

How is a B streptococcal infection in pregnant women treated?

If the result of your GBS screening indicates that you carry Group B Streptococcus, it can be treated effectively to protect your baby. During childbirth you will receive a one-time antibiotic via injection or infusion . This significantly reduces the risk of transmission to your baby. You may wonder why the antibiotic is not administered before birth. It has been shown that medication given before birth—that is, during pregnancy—does not completely eliminate the bacteria. Therefore, the risk of infection for your newborn would still be too high at the time of birth.