Group B strep test

Overview:

Group B Strep is a type of bacteria that is present in the digestive system, urinary tract, and genital areas of the human body. These bacteria aren’t harmful and they don’t usually affect people or cause any symptoms. However, sometimes they can cause an infection known as the GBS disease in people who are above 65 years of age or if they have any chronic ailments that weaken their immune system and babies.

Most often it is difficult to determine how the bacteria spreads from one person to another. One common reason according to doctors is that women who are pregnant can pass on the bacteria to their newborn baby during a vaginal delivery as the bacteria is found in the vagina and the rectum. The infection can cause severe illness in the baby and can be fatal for them. Most babies get infected in the first week after birth and the infection becomes evident after a few hours of delivery. Some infants get affected within one week to three months after they are born. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises a routine screening for group B strep during the 36 and 37 weeks of pregnancy. The test involves taking a swab of the vagina and the rectum and sending it to the laboratory for investigation.

The Symptoms Of Group B Strep Infection:

Most of the symptoms are experienced only by older adults with certain specific health conditions and include:

• Fever and chills.
• Tiredness.
• Breathlessness.
• Pain in the chest.
• Stiffness in the muscles.

Newborns infected with the bacteria show the following symptoms.

• Fever.
• Difficulty in feeding
• Breathlessness.
• Crankiness.
• Low energy.

The conditions caused by Group B Strep bacteria:

In newborns:

• Pneumonia(Inflammation of the lungs).
• Sepsis (inflammation in the body)
• Meningitis (Tissue inflammation around the brain and spinal cord)
• Bacteremia (infection in the bloodstream).

In pregnant Women:

• Bacteremia.
• Chorioamnionitis (if placenta and amniotic fluid is infected).
• Endometritis(infection in the uterine lining).
• Urinary tract infections.

In older adults:

• Pneumonia.
• Urinary tract infections.
• Bacteremia.
• Infections in the bones and joints.
• Skin and tissue infections.
• Endocarditis(infection in the heart valves).
• Meningitis.

The Procedure Details of the Group B Strep Test:

The Group B Strep Test can either be a swab test, a urine test, or a blood test which is usually done for babies.

For a swab test: 

The person is asked to lie on their back on the examination table. The health professional uses a cotton swab to obtain a sample which consists of cells and fluids from the vagina and rectum.

The sample is dispatched to the laboratory for testing. Most people receive their results in 48 hours.

For the urine test:

The person is asked to collect their urine sample. Before taking the sample they have to wash their hands, dry them, and open the container in which the urine has to be collected without touching the inside of the container. The genital area should be wiped clean. While urinating the person should pass some urine, then curb the flow and start urinating again. When they urinate the second time, they should collect that urine in the container. The container should not touch the body and should be filled till the marking. The container should be submitted to the laboratory technician.

For the blood test:

Babies require a blood test for group B strep. The blood is collected from the baby’s heel and they may feel a slight prick while the sample is collected.

For some babies, a lumbar puncture test is done for group B strep. The test involves holding the baby in a curled position. The nurse or the technician cleans the baby’s back and injects an anesthetic into the skin so that the baby doesn’t feel any pain while the sample is being collected. The baby may also be given a sedative or a painkiller to help tolerate the procedure.

Once the area is numbed, the needle is put between two vertebrae which are the bones in the spinal cord, and a sample of cerebrospinal fluid is drawn out for testing. The procedure takes around five minutes.

The doctor may recommend a chest X-ray to find out if a person has group B strep disease.

However, it should be noted that having a positive test doesn’t mean that the person or the baby will get sick. The babies who are infected can be treated with antibiotics. However in some cases if the doctor suspects that the baby may have develop the infection the doctor may decide to treat the baby before the results as the infection can be fatal for the baby.

Infection in newborns is prevented by treating the mother with antibiotics injected into the body through an intravenous tube during labor and four hours before delivery. This prevents 90% of the infection from passing on to the newborn. Mothers who are undergoing a planned C-section do not require antibiotics. The mothers are advised to stay in the hospital for 12 hours to be monitored for the development of any symptoms and complications.

Risks Involved In The Test:

• The person undergoing the swab or the urine test faces no risk. However, babies who undergo the blood test may develop bruises at the site where the needle is inserted and also may feel pain.
• The lumbar puncture procedure may cause infection or bleeding at the site of drawing the fluid.

Conclusion:

People who test positive for Group B strep bacteria should not get very worried. The bacteria is naturally present in the body and does not cause any harm. The chances of passing the infection to newborns from their mothers who are undergoing a vaginal delivery are less especially if the mother has been taking antibiotics. The doctor should be consulted if the person has any concerns about the infection.

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