Key Points
- Group B Streptococcus (group B strep, GBS) disease can be very serious, even deadly, for babies.
- There are things healthcare providers can do to prevent GBS disease during the first week of a newborn's life.
Overview
The best way to prevent GBS disease during the first week of life is to give antibiotics, during labor, to women at increased risk.
All pregnant women should get screened for GBS bacteria.
Antibiotics during labor
Healthcare providers give antibiotics to women who are at increased risk of having a baby who will develop GBS disease. The antibiotics help protect babies from infection, but only if given during labor.
Antibiotics cannot be given before labor begins because the bacteria can grow back quickly.
Healthcare providers give the antibiotic by IV (through the vein). Beta-lactams are the type of antibiotic prescribed the most during labor to prevent GBS disease. Penicillin and ampicillin are examples of beta-lactams. However, healthcare providers can give other antibiotics to women who are severely allergic to these antibiotics.
Why prevention is important
Getting antibiotics during labor is safe and helps the baby
Antibiotics are very safe
About 1 in 10 women have mild side effects from receiving penicillin. There's a rare chance (about 1 in 10,000 women) of having a severe allergic reaction that requires emergency treatment.
Antibiotics are very effective
Antibiotics are very effective at preventing GBS disease in newborns. Consider the following examples:
- Tanya tested positive for GBS bacteria.
- Tanya got antibiotics during labor.
- Her baby has a 1 in 4,000 chance of getting GBS disease.
- Her baby is well-protected from GBS disease.
- Emma tested positive for GBS bacteria.
- Emma did not get antibiotics during labor.
- Emma's baby has a 1 in 200 chance of getting GBS disease.
- Because Emma didn't get antibiotics during labor, her baby is 20 times more likely to get GBS disease compared to Tanya's baby.