What is group B streptococcus (beta strep)?
Group B streptococcus (also called beta strep, or GBS), is a very common type of bacteria. Ten to thirty percent of pregnant women carry GBS bacteria. Most often the bacteria are in the vagina or rectum. GBS bacteria are different from the type of bacteria that cause strep throat. Healthy adults carrying GBS usually do not have any symptoms or problems that would suggest an active infection and no treatment is needed. However, sometimes the bacteria can cause an infection in the uterus, bladder, kidneys, or, rarely, the brain (meningitis). Although these infections in adults are usually not serious, most will need to be treated with antibiotics. If a mother is carrying the bacteria, the baby may develop an active infection during the labor and delivery process. In that situation, the baby may get very sick and possibly die if not treated with the proper medicines.
