Group B Streptococcus , also known as Streptococcus agalactiae , S. agalactiae or SGB, is a bacterium that is naturally present in the gastrointestinal, urinary tract and vagina without causing any symptoms. However, in some situations, this bacterium is able to colonize the vagina, which can cause complications during pregnancy and at the time of delivery, for example, since as there are no symptoms, the bacteria can pass from the mother to the baby, which it can be serious in some cases.
As there is a risk of contamination of the baby, the recommendation is that between the 35th and the 37th week of gestation, a laboratory test popularly known as the swab test is carried out so that the presence and quantity of Streptococcus B is verified and, thus, there can be planning regarding the performance of treatment during childbirth.
Examination of the swab in pregnancy
The swab examination is an examination that must be carried out between the 35th and 37th weeks of gestation and which aims to identify the presence of the bacterium Streptococcus agalactiae and its quantity. This examination is done in the laboratory and consists of the collection, using a swab, of samples from the vagina and anus, as these are the places where the presence of this bacterium can be verified more easily.
After collection, the swabs are sent to the laboratory to be analyzed and the result is released between 24 and 48 hours. If the test is positive, the doctor checks for symptoms of infection and, if necessary, can indicate the treatment, which is done through administration directly into the antibiotic vein a few hours before and during delivery.
Treatment before delivery is not indicated because it is a bacterium normally found in the body and, if it is done before delivery, it is possible that the bacteria will grow back, representing a risk for the baby.
Symptoms of Group B Streptococcus infection
The woman may have infection with S. agalactiae at any time during pregnancy, since the bacteria is naturally present in the urinary tract. When the infection is not treated correctly or the test for identification is not performed, it is possible that the bacteria pass to the baby, generating signs and symptoms, the main ones being:
- Fever; Respiratory problems; Cardiac instability; Renal and gastrointestinal disorders; Sepsis, which corresponds to the presence of the bacteria in the bloodstream, which is quite serious; Irritability; Pneumonia; Meningitis.
According to the age at which signs and symptoms of group B Streptococcus infection appear in the baby, the infection can be classified as:
- Early-onset infection, in which symptoms appear in the first hours after birth; Late-onset infection, in which symptoms appear between the 8th day after birth and 3 months of life; Infection of very late onset, which is when symptoms appear after 3 months of life and is more related to meningitis and sepsis.
If there are symptoms of infection in the first two trimesters of pregnancy, the doctor may recommend treatment with antibiotics, to avoid complications during pregnancy, such as miscarriage or premature birth, for example. Even if it was done for treatment to fight S. agalactiae during pregnancy, it is important that the pregnant woman take the cotton swab to identify the bacteria and prevent it from being passed on to the baby.
Learn how to recognize the symptoms of group B Streptococcus and how treatment is done.
Risk factors
Some situations increase the risk of transmission of the bacteria from the mother to the baby, the main ones being:
- Identification of the bacteria in previous deliveries; Urinary tract infection by Streptococcus agalactiae during pregnancy; Labor before the 37th week of pregnancy; Fever during labor; Previous baby with group B Streptococcus .
If it is found that there is a high risk of transmission of the bacteria from the mother to the baby, treatment is done during delivery by administering antibiotics directly into the vein. To avoid complications, see what tests should be done during the third trimester of pregnancy.
