Group B streptococcus (strep) is a common bacterium often carried in your intestines or lower genital tract. Group B strep is usually harmless in adults. In newborns, however, it can cause a serious illness known as group B strep disease. <\/p>\n
Group B strep can also cause dangerous infections in adults with certain chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes or liver disease. Older adults are at increased risk of illness due to group B strep, too. <\/p>\n
If you’re a healthy adult, there’s nothing you need to do about group B strep. If you’re pregnant, get a group B strep screening test during your third trimester. If you have group B strep, antibiotic treatment during labor can protect your baby.<\/p>\n
Many healthy people carry group B strep bacteria in their bodies. Group B strep bacteria aren’t sexually transmitted, and they’re not spread through food or water. You may carry group B strep in your body for just a short period of time, it may come and go, or you may always have it. <\/p>\n
Group B strep can spread to a baby during a vaginal delivery if the baby is exposed to — or swallows — fluids containing group B strep. <\/p>\n
Some individuals, such as older adults and those with chronic health conditions, can develop a more serious infection from group B strep. However, the reason this occurs in some people but not others isn’t known.<\/p>\n
Infants<\/strong> <\/p>\n Most babies born to women carrying group B strep are healthy. But the few who are infected by group B strep during labor can become critically ill. <\/p>\n In infants, illness caused by group B strep can take two forms: early onset or late onset. <\/p>\n Early-onset group B strep disease. A baby with early-onset group B strep disease becomes sick within one week after birth. Signs and symptoms may include: <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n<\/ul>\n
If you’re like many adults, you may carry group B strep in your body, usually in your bowel, vagina, rectum, bladder or throat. Most adults simply carry the bacterium and have no signs or symptoms. <\/p>\n In some cases, group B strep may cause a urinary tract infection or more serious infections such as blood infections (bacteremia) or pneumonia. <\/p>\n When to see a doctor<\/strong> <\/p>\n As an adult, if you experience any signs or symptoms of group B strep infection — particularly if you’re pregnant, you have a chronic medical condition or you’re older than 65 — contact your doctor right away. <\/p>\n If you notice your infant has any of the signs or symptoms of group B strep disease, tell your baby’s doctor immediately.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
\n
Late-onset group B strep disease. Late-onset group B strep disease develops within a week to a few months after birth, usually within the first month. Signs and symptoms may include: <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
Adults<\/strong> <\/p>\n