Nowadays, with the continuous development and progress of society and the continuous improvement of medical technology, more and more diseases are being deeply understood and discovered by us. In recent years, another testing item has been added to the prenatal examination program for pregnant women, which is group B streptococcus in late pregnancy. So, is there a cure for babies infected with GBS? Next, the editor will take everyone to explore.
Is there a cure for babies infected with GBS
For newborns, infection with group B streptococcus is the most common cause of sepsis and meningitis, as well as a common cause of neonatal pneumonia. Even after being cured, newborns infected with group B streptococcus meningitis often leave some sequelae, such as hearing or vision impairment, learning disabilities, movement disorders, or cerebral palsy.
The source of infection in babies is the birth canal of pregnant women. Group B streptococcus infection can also cause premature birth, miscarriage, premature rupture of membranes, or even death. Therefore, to avoid infecting babies during childbirth, pregnant women should undergo routine testing for Group B streptococcus at 35-37 weeks of pregnancy, which can reduce at least 70% of infections and ensure the health of newborns. If a pregnant woman has a group B streptococcus infection in the vagina, that is, carrying bacteria, the risk of infection in newborns increases, and the infection rate can reach 1%. Although the infection rate is not very high, once infected, the mortality rate is high. This is why pregnant women and doctors should pay attention to it.
How to prevent babies from being infected with GBS
The main route of GBS transmission is vertical transmission, which is closely related to delivery. If a pregnant woman is infected with GBS, the newborn may inhale infected amniotic fluid at birth or be infected with GBS through the birth canal. The infection time of newborns can be divided into early invasive infections (within 7 days of birth) and late invasive infections (after 7 days of birth).
Based on the severity of symptoms and diseases related to GBS infection in pregnant women and newborns, prenatal screening for GBS is particularly important. Delivery transmission is the main route of GBS infection in newborns, so antibiotic prevention can effectively reduce neonatal infections.
At present, medicine cannot determine which pregnant women are high-risk groups, but routine screening for vaginal and anal group B streptococcus should be conducted between 35-37 weeks of pregnancy. If pregnant women are found to carry the bacteria, antibiotic treatment can reduce the risk of early onset infections in most newborns. Therefore, screening between 35-37 weeks is sufficient to allow for treatment time. If a pregnant woman who has given birth naturally has not been tested for Group B streptococcus, she should undergo an urgent GBS test upon admission, which usually takes 2 hours to obtain results. Adequate antibiotics, such as penicillin, can be given as soon as possible. Penicillin is a B-grade medication used in obstetrics and gynecology, and is safe for fetuses.
This article provides a detailed answer and analysis on whether there is a cure for babies infected with GBS, and I believe everyone has gained a certain understanding of this. Overall, although the infection rate of GBS in babies is not high, their prognosis is poor. Therefore, pregnant women must undergo regular prenatal check ups, especially in the late stages of pregnancy. In addition, pregnant women should pay attention to maintaining vaginal hygiene and cleanliness.
