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Promising news for pregnant women: research on a Group B Strep vaccine
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Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh presented the results of development and testing of a vaccine for Group B Streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae) at a infectious disease conference last week.
According to researchers, pregnant women who received the Group B Strep vaccine were approximately one-third less likely to carry the bacteria in the vagina and 43 per cent less likely to carry the organism in the intestines.
The bacteria are normally present, or colonized in the vagina and intestine of 15-40% of healthy women. Group B strep is not the same bacteria that cause strep throat (Group A strep). For most women that are colonized there are no symptoms.
Group B strep bacteria colonized in the vagina or gut of a pregnant woman can be a threat to the newborn during delivery. One in every 2000 babies in the United States get infected with the bacteria.
Many of the cases of Group B strep disease in newborns happen within the first week, also known as “early onset disease”. The result can be neonatal sepsis, pneumonia or meningitis. Premature babies are at greater risk.
“Late onset disease” is seen in babies can be seen weeks to months after birth. They may get infect from a carrier mother or many time the source of the infection is unknown.
The symptoms of Group B strep disease in the newborn appear like many other illnesses; fever, irritability, lethargy and feeding difficulties.
Pregnant woman today are tested for Group B strep and are given intravenous antibiotics (penicillin) during labor. The baby will be observed to see if additional treatment is necessary. However, if the antibiotic is given too early, the bacteria can come back and colonize the area.
If you are allergic to penicillin there are other alternative antibiotics.
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