When is group b strep test done

Symptoms include fever, rapid heart rate, breathing difficulty, and mental confusion. Vagina: A tube-like structure surrounded by muscles. The vagina leads from the uterus to the outside of the body. Copyright by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. All rights reserved. Read copyright and permissions information. This information is designed as an educational aid for the public. It offers current information and opinions related to women's health.

It is not intended as a statement of the standard of care. It does not explain all of the proper treatments or methods of care. It is not a substitute for the advice of a physician. Early-onset disease can cause severe problems, such as inflammation of the covering of the brain or spinal cord meningitis infection of the lungs pneumonia infection in the blood sepsis A small number of babies with early-onset disease die even with immediate treatment.

Antibiotics may be given without testing if: You had a previous child who had GBS disease You have GBS bacteria in your urine at any point during your pregnancy Your GBS status is not known when you go into labor and you have a fever Your GBS status is not known and you go into labor before 37 weeks Your GBS status is not known and it has been 18 hours or more since your water broke Your GBS status for this pregnancy is not known but you tested positive for GBS in a past pregnancy.

Antibiotics: Drugs that treat certain types of infections. Bacteria: One-celled organisms that can cause infections in the human body. Meningitis: Inflammation of the covering of the brain or spinal cord. Pneumonia: An infection of the lungs. Rectum: The last part of the digestive tract. Article continues below Advertisement. If you have further questions, contact your ob-gyn. Don't have an ob-gyn? Search for doctors near you. These include:. If you test positive for GBS or have any of the above conditions, you will be treated with intravenous antibiotics when you go into labour, or if your water breaks early.

Although it is rare, your baby will still be monitored closely for symptoms of an infection. An infection may show up in the first 7 days, or after that.

The early-onset type of infection can be very serious, and this is why GBS-positive women are treated during labour. If your baby shows signs of GBS infection, he or she will be treated with antibiotics. We use cookies to improve functionality and performance. By clicking "OK" or by continuing to browse this site, you agree to the use of cookies.

But it can cause illness in some people, such as the elderly and those with some medical conditions. GBS can cause infections in such areas of the body as the blood, lungs, skin, or bones. About 1 out of every 4 women have GBS. In pregnant women, GBS can cause infection of the urinary tract, placenta, womb, and amniotic fluid.

Even if they haven't had any symptoms of infection, pregnant women can pass the infection to their babies during labor and delivery. When women with GBS are treated with antibiotics during labor, most of their babies do not have any problems. But some babies can become very sick from GBS. Premature babies are more likely to be infected with GBS than full-term babies because their bodies and immune systems are less developed.

Pregnant women are routinely tested for GBS late in the pregnancy, usually between weeks 35 and The test is simple, inexpensive, and painless. Called a culture, it involves using a large cotton swab to collect samples from the vagina and rectum.

These samples are tested in a lab to check for GBS. The results are usually available in 1 to 3 days. GBS infection in babies is diagnosed by testing a sample of blood or spinal fluid.