Misunderstanding Group B Streptococcus (GBS)

84 Comments:

• At Wed Feb 13, 04:52:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  can I pass streptococcus B to my daughters and grandchildren by touch or food etc etc

   

• At Fri Feb 15, 10:28:00 AM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Feb 13: Yes, but since about one hird of indicviduals are chronic carriers, don't know it, and don't even get sick from it, I would not get overly stressed about that. In fact, they may have been the ones who gave it to you! Dr T

   

• At Fri Feb 22, 02:32:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  Hi, I just found out that I have group B, this is my 3rd pregnancy and as far as I know my other two daughters dont carry the bacteria, does it go away eventually on its own? how do I find out if they have it and when the new baby comes should I keep my other children away from her? and because its so easy to pass from person to person what kind of sighns should I be looking for if theres a problem?

   

• At Wed Feb 27, 04:38:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I was just diagnosed with GBS today....not pregnant but want to be in the short future. Im 22 years old and im taking antibiotics to treat it now. Im just afraid that my partner has it too and we will continue to pass it back and forth...can that happen? And if it does happen when i get pregnant will it kill my baby or cause mental retardation? Im scared!!!!!

   

• At Thu Feb 28, 05:31:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Feb 22: If every family that had a GBS carrier imposed strict isolation on the "contaminated individual(s)" there would NOT be many happy families! Relax. Even as a carrier, your risks for complications for either you or the baby are low. And, your doctors are well versed in the appropriate indications for antibiotic prophylaxis. Good luck and thanks for writing! Dr T

   

• At Thu Feb 28, 05:37:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Feb 22: GBS CAN do all those bad things, but the actual attack rate is low. Remember, far more women carry it than have complications. BTW were you recently being treated for a GBS urinary tract infection (UTI) or was there another reason you were tested for it. If it was a UTI, you should probably be screened periodically for that during pregnancy since even asymptomatic bladder infections can cause complications related to premature labor and early rupture of membranes. Right now, you don't have anything to worry about, so don't! Dr T

   

• At Fri Mar 07, 09:49:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I had a baby girl in March of 2006 she passed away 7 weeks later with Group B Strep Meningitis. Just recently I had bacterial vaginosis and it did not go away. I went back a week later and they said I had tested positive for Group B Strep. I am not pregnant nor do I plan on becoming pregnant. I don't understand why they would have tested me for it. Do I have anything to worry about?

   

• At Sat Mar 08, 04:45:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To Anonymous Mar 7: I am not sure why they would test you for it either, unless you simply had bacterial cultures done and that just happened to grow out. Since 30-40% of people are chronically 'colonized' by GBS, unless you have a urinary tract infection with it or are having other problems, there is no reason to treat it at that time. You must be carefuly followed during another pregnancy because of the loss of your baby, even if it was well beyond the sual time of concern for GBS. You may not have entirely normal immune response to GBS and, therefore, your babies may not be as well-protected from the bacterium during the first 3-6 months of life by the antibodies that they obtain from you across the placenta. Thank you for reading and for your comment.
  Dr T

   

• At Fri Mar 14, 09:59:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  Hi, My daughter Sofia passed away at three weeks old on the 9th of Jan after contracting the GBS infection, which I tested positive for after her death. She was healthy for two weeks of her life at home but at birth she had an infection which the hospital could not recognise after numerous blood tests and checking her spinal fluid. They cleared the infection 8 days after her birth and sent us home using 'general anti biotics' because they did not know what she had. My pregnancy and the birth went well and I was healthy apart from being diagnosed with scabies during the seventh month of pregnancy. She had no symptoms of being ill until her 18th day of life by which time the hospital had to put her into intensive care on life support, at this time they first detected strep in her body but her brain had become infected and she died two days after.She was my first child and I am worried that if and when I am pregnant again if the baby catches the infection - doctors may not be able to detect it in tests again until it's too late.
  Seher London UK

   

• At Wed Mar 19, 06:41:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To Anonymous Mar 14: I am so sorry for the loss of your child. If this was a GBS infection, your doctors will be very aggressive about treating you with appropriate antibiotics during your next labor, even if you test negative for GBS during the pregnancy. They should also periodically screen your urine for GBS during the pregnancy. Most individuals who carry GBS don't have any problems with the bacterium, nor do their children, but others do not have a normal immune response to the GBS and are at greater risk for their babies having complications because they don't pass on enough of the proper antibodies that would ordinarily protect the baby early in life. You may be one of those individuals. Thank you for reading. Dr T

   

• At Wed Apr 23, 01:09:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  My daughter was just diagnosed with GBS and she is 9 months old. When I was in labor with her (10 1/2 hours) I only received one full dose of antibiotic and I am wonder if I should have had a second dose and if I should have if I would have received it is there a better chance that my daughter would not have it today?

   

• At Thu Apr 24, 06:25:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Apr 23: Not recieving the second does of antibiotic did not make your baby get GBS. You or some other family memeber may be a chronic carrier, as 20-30% of all folks seem to be, and she may be as well. Your own body has to keep the bacterium in check and all the antibiotics in the world may not ever clear it completely! It's one of those things many folks just have to live with! Stop kicking yourself and thanks for reading. Dr T

   

• At Mon Jun 02, 04:34:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  If a womwn has a GBS, does this infect her partner in sexual activities?

   

• At Mon Jun 02, 10:18:00 PM 2008,  kierston said…

  my first pregnancy ended at 19 weeks by misscarriage.the doctors said the baby was gbs positive. but they said my misscarriage was from an incompetent cervix. for my second pregnancy i recieved a emergency cerclage placement at 20 weeks and was on bedrest until i was induced at 39 weeks. the doctor stripped my membranes the day before i was induced and during the 19 hour labor i was given internal fetal monitors and antibiotics. my daughter became gbs positive 6 weeks later and died. if i am a constant carrier of gbs how do i protect my babies from being colonized? is my cervix incompetent because of the gbs? i need cerclages to carry my babies full term, but if the invasive placement is caousing the gbs to pass to the fetus, what can i do? i am afraid to concieve again unless i know what i can do to stop this from happening to me.

   

• At Wed Jun 04, 06:54:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To Kierston: You may be one of those individuals who has a hrad time developing a normal immune response to GBS and because of that your babies may always be at risk. I am curious though, how soon after delivery did your baby get sick and were you treated for GBS prophylactically during the labor and delivery. I have suspected that GBS can contribute to cervical insufficiency in individuals like you but there is no proof of that of which I am aware. In a subsequennt pregnancy I WOULD recommend a good cerclage at about 13 weeks gestation, frequent assessment for evidence of GBS urinary tract infections and aggressive treatment for the same, adequate prophylactic therapy in labor, no stripping of membranes and the bare minimum of cervical exams and invasive monitoring during labor and careful attention to the baby by an expert in pediatric infectious diseases after birth. If you get pregnant again, I may have some other suggestions as well. Again, sorry for your losses. Dr T

   

• At Wed Jun 04, 07:30:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous June 2: So many people are colonized by GBS that it is hard to say how they pass it back and forth. It's just part of being human and it certainly is NOT a sexually transmitted disease in the strictest sense of the definition! Dr T

   

• At Wed Jun 04, 09:02:00 PM 2008,  Kierston said…

  Dr. T, I was treated with at least four doses of antibiotics during labor and delivery. my baby didn't have symptoms of Strep infection until a couple of days before she turned 6 weeks. i've read that with late onset gbs there's only a 50% chance that it was from labor, but im sure thats what it was from. I plan to try and concieve again in August, do you suggest that i see my ob/gyn before i concieve to develop a plan, or if there is anything i can do now to prepare before conception? you have been such a great help, thank you!

   

• At Sat Jun 07, 07:20:00 AM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To Kierston: No, actually your baby probably did not contact the GBS until later and that could have been from you or any other family member who carries it. To prepare for another pregnancy, you might want to start taking some vitamin supplements that will boost your immune system: Vitamin C, B complex, folic acid, vitamin D. I think your problem has been that for some reason, you are one of those people who does not develop a good immune respone to GBS, so your babies are at risk for not getting much protective immunity in the womb as they might for other organisms in the environment. Good luck and I certainly hope things turn out better the next time around. Dr T

   

• At Fri Jun 20, 09:08:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I was just wondering I have had 2 children but had diffrent dads i wasnt group b possitive with my first but was with my second and they tested me at my post check up and i was neg again how is the possible to have it with one preg. and not the second

   

• At Sat Jun 21, 02:12:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I have recently been diagnosed with a uti caused by group b strep. I've been on two rounds 500mg 4X day) of ampicillin and it's still not cleared up. As a matter of fact, the bacteria count actually increased during treatment. Obviously the ampicillin is not working and I don't like the idea of taking yet another course since it kills all the good bacteria as well. What is a girl to do? I am finished having kids so that's not my concern...it's uncomfortable and I'm freaking out that this bacteria is running rampant through my body! Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated!

   

• At Sat Jun 28, 10:36:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I just was diagnosed with vaginal strep b (did cultures - that's what grew out). I am allergic to penecillin so am taking Erythromycin 400mg tid x 10 days. I am concerned that this may mean I have some unknown medical problem. I have no chronic health problems and have always been in good health, and see my dr. regularly. Can this lead to a systemic infection if the Erythromycin doesn't work?

   

• At Sat Jun 28, 10:38:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  from earlier comment (one taking erythromycin) - I am not pregnant and am done having children.

   

• At Sat Jun 28, 05:05:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I was diagnosed with GBS and I have a UTI from it. I am tremendously uncomfortable. I have taken ampicillin 250 mg dose 4x/day for a week. I did a test for the cure and found it was still in my urinary tract, though in slightly smaller amounts. I am still as uncomfortable as ever (to me, it seems even worse) and have just completed a 5 day course of 250 mg Z-pack. It is a weekend, so I haven't had a chance to give my urine to test the cure, but I am unbelievably uncomfortable - this feels worse than I've felt it so far. I know that when my urine was tested, they also tested these drugs on the culture to make sure the bacteria reacted to it, but none of the drugs seem to be helping. I am also drinking cranberry juice for the UTI and taking acidophilus to combat the antibiotics, but I'm starting to feel a little patient-zeroish here and worried that maybe I have some strain of GBS that is not curable or something. I had a month or two of vaginal discomfort from this and thought it was a yeast infection when this whole thing started and my doctor kept telling me that GBS in the vagina is usually asymptomatic and that it made no sense. Well, the symptoms were horrible! Now that it's in my urinary tract as well, the symptoms are even worse. I think it is in my anus as well, since that has started burning and hurting. Please help! I am seeing a doctor regularly for this, but it's getting me nowhere.
  
  I know I didn't have GBS and wasn't a carrier a few years ago, because I was tested before I gave birth and did not have it. I am not pregnant now and don't know why this is happening or how I got it.

   

• At Fri Jul 04, 07:09:00 AM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Jun 28 This does NOT sound like it is related to GBS. It could be another bacteria, fungus, genital herpes, human papillomavirus infection, interstitial cystitis, endometriosis, or a primary bowel problem such as regional enteritis. You may need to have another doctor look into our bladder and lower bowel. I will be very interested to hear what they find, so please let us know. Dr T

   

• At Fri Jul 04, 07:46:00 AM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous June 20; We do not understand very well what relationship GBS has with our bodies and our immune systems. We do know that 20-40% of ALL women are chronic carriers, that very few are at significant risk for complications related to the same and that it can appear to come and go without any treatment within in weeks. So, I am not surprised, you tested positive at one time and then not again and you may still test positive again at some time in the future. It's just one of those things we have to coexist with and generally we do so quite well! Dr T

   

• At Fri Jul 04, 07:50:00 AM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous June 28: You may be one of those individuals who does not mount a normal immune response to GBS and/or there may be someone or something in your environment that is a source of repeated reinfection. If you have recurrent urinary tract infections with any bacteria, I would suggest you find a urologist who can look inside your bladder to see if there is a structural cause for your persistent/recurrent infections. Dr T

   

• At Fri Jul 04, 07:53:00 AM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous June 28: I am curious as to why your doctors did a vaginal GBS culture if you aren't pregnancy. 20-40% of ALL women will be positive and very few are at any real risk from the bacterium. Dr T

   

• At Wed Jul 09, 10:12:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  Hi,im 19 and im 37 weeks pregnant im gbs positive i wanted while having gbs can i be sexually active? i also wanted to know if drinking cranberrie juice would help?

   

• At Wed Jul 09, 03:48:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  Hi, I hope you can give me your honest opinion here... I am scared and dont know what to do.. I have been seeing a CPM now since my 3rd month of pregnancy..She is a great midwife and I really wanted to go the natural route and birth in their center... problem is I just got results back yesterday that I am GBS +.. I have never in any of my pregnancies had this..my midwife does not believe in treating with antibiotics and she gave me something called chlorhexidine with a douche bottle and told me to put one tablespoon in it filled with water and to lightly cleanse 2 times a day.. which I have done, and that I am to do this 5 days...I have now decided to go into the hospital because I want the antibiotics.. I dont want to risk my child, No one that works in their center is a nurse so they cant do antibiotics anyways... I just want to know if you think I am making a good decision.. I just dont want to chance it... not after hearing some of these stories and researching GBS more..Also what are the chances of the baby having problems with the antibiotics.. I am not allergic to penicillan that I know of.. I have taken it before.. but I have heard of antibiotic resistant problems in newborns.. Thank you for you help and any advice

   

• At Sat Jul 12, 03:38:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous July 8: MOST women who cary GBS ARE sexually active an do not even know they have GBS - so the simple answer is yes, you can be. No one knows if diet affects GBS carriage, but try the cranberry juice and see what happens! And, let us know if the GBS goes away, although it frequently comes and goes on its own anyway! Thanks for reading.
  Dr T

   

• At Sat Jul 12, 03:45:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To Anonymous July 9: I know it is hard to give up the delivery with your midwife, but if she cannot provide antibiotics to cover GBS during labor, as is the current standard of medical care, you are making a wise choice to go to the hospital. Odds are you would have done just fine, as would your baby, since many women who carry GBS and were not screened USUALLY have good outcomes. But, I agree, why would you take the chance if you know. You would never be able to forgive yourself. Topical treatment with chlorhexidine has not been shown to prevent transmission to a baby during labor and delivery. It is unlikely the baby would have complications related to Penicillin unless you do, and if you do, you're better off in the hospital when that happens. Good luck. Dr T

   

• At Tue Jul 15, 01:13:00 AM 2008,  Fanny said…

  Hi Dr Trofratter, just to elaborate on my 1st question, if the sperm gets infected by GBS, does it mean that the baby is no longer “isolated” from the bacteria as the infected sperms goes to making the baby. This is on the pretext that the GBS does not compromise the quality of the sperm? Thanks again.

   

• At Tue Jul 15, 10:57:00 AM 2008,  Jen said…

  What are the symptoms of Group B Strep infection in a newborn? I tested positive for Group B Strep, had my membranes ruptured, was treated with antibiotics during 16 hours of labor and after, and ended up delivering via c-section. My baby is 3 weeks old and I just tested positive for a UTI related to Group B Strep. I am fearful that she has it or will contract it and want to know what to look for.

   

• At Tue Jul 15, 11:16:00 AM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To Fanny: GBS is not carried inside of cells (or sperm) the way certain viruses can be, so I don't think that should be a problem! Dr T

   

• At Tue Jul 15, 04:12:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To jen: the presentation can be variable. High or low temperature, lethargy, poor feeding, respiratory compromise, and neurologic symptoms - jitteriness, irritability, etc. - are all common. Tell your pediatrician about your UTI and your fears and see if she/he has any recommendations. Best wishes and thanks for a good question. Dr T

   

• At Fri Jul 18, 09:58:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I was anonymous June 28 that had the ampicillin and the z-pack. I got my urine retested and still had the GBS in my urinary tract. I am not prone to UTI's - haven't had one in about 15 years or so.
  
  I had a vaginal and anal culture and there was nothing but GBS. The symptoms were really bothersome.
  
  I didn't know what to do and neither did my doctors. I was recently in Europe and a pharmacist I spoke to gave me manuka oil to take (3 drops, twice a day, mixed in sesame oil). She told me to take it for two weeks. Within about a day and a half, my symptoms all went away!
  
  It's only been a week so far, but I'm feeling very encouraged! After I finish the two weeks of manuka, I will again go for a urine test to make sure it is completely gone. I feel so fortunate to have found this solution. Even if the GBS is still there -- at least the symptoms aren't.
  
  If anyone out there has the same symptoms I did, please don't just buy manuka oil and take it. Check with your doctor first. Just because it is natural does not mean it is safe for everyone. Also, maybe your doctor can help you find a high-quality source for it. I just wanted to mention it here as a possible option for people who didn't have much luck with antibiotics, like me.
  
  Good luck and I'll let you know what my test results are when I get them back!

   

• At Fri Jul 18, 06:40:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous July 18: Thank you for your comment. One of the reasns I love writing this blog is that I learn things from my readers as well! Dr T

   

• At Thu Jul 24, 06:46:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  You're welcome. Thanks for posting this blog! I feel like I'm not alone.
  
  I just wanted to report that while I was asymptomatic for about 9 days or so, the symptoms are now back with a vengeance for no apparent reason. I'm still taking the manuka oil (and still taking a lot of acidophilus and cranberry). I dropped off a urine sample today to get a handle on what is going on. I was really hoping that manuka oil was the miracle I had been looking for. Now I am not so sure. I'll keep you posted on the progress.
  
  I do know that if that doesn't work, I am thinking of trying biofeedback next. I just don't know what to do.
  
  Signed,
  Manuka Hope

   

• At Fri Jul 25, 03:54:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To Manuka Hope: I am still not sure these symptoms are entirely the result of the GBS. It does cause UTIs that can of course be symptomatic but the severity of your symptoms and their recurrence speaks to other potential causes. My suggestion would be to see a good urogynecologist and see if he/she has any other ideas. They might ant you to see a gastroenterologist as well! Please let us know what you find out.
  Dr T

   

• At Mon Jul 28, 02:02:00 AM 2008,  Fanny said…

  Hi Dr Trofatter, thank you very much for your kind feedback. And after talking to some friends, I am more convinced that ever that GBS is really very common among both pregnant and non-pregnant women.
  
  Hi Manuka Hope, thanks for sharing your experiences with Manuka oil. I am sorry to hear about your struggle with GBS and UTI. Allow me to share some experience with you. My sis was down with UTI (not sure if its due to GBS but it could well be other bacteria) and it did not go away with two courses of antibiotics. But once she started to jog for 15-30 mins everyday, the UTI disappeared! And we attributed it to an improvement in her immunity system that defeated the infection. You could try to exercise more and see if it works, in any case, exercise is good. Another thing, I have recently read a lot about GBS being sensitive to Garlic. You could google "garlic and GBS" and you will see a lot to literature. You could incorporate raw garlic into your diet and see if it works. And garlic is like exercise, good for health. (But don't eat in excessive of course!) For me, I can't take too much garlic as it interferes with the chinese medicine I am taking. Hope your problem will be resolved. Fanny.

   

• At Mon Jul 28, 04:21:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To Fanny: You're welcome and good luck. Please let us know what you find out about the problems you have had recently! Dr T

   

• At Thu Jul 31, 07:53:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  Dr T, I'm not pregnant and have never been, 28yrs old, sexually active in monogamous relationship. I have been told that I have reoccurring bacterial vaginosis and GBS-more frequent during the summer months. I have taken flagyl 500mg 2x daily-7day, each month since May, once simultaneously with metrogel inserts. Still, test show I carry BV. I have taken ampicillin 500mg 2xdaily-10day twice since May, still test show I carry GBS. In addition all these antibiotics making me nausea, they cause me to have a yeast infection so I've been taking diflucan every other week-in addition to 3-day terconazole inserts. My symptoms are on-and off, miserable some weeks, ok the next. More recently I've been having constipation (loose stool) and rectal itching. Right now i'm not feeling symptoms though my test show positive for BV & GBS i'm given the same meds this week(again!)-flagy, metrogel, difulcan, ampicilin- 4xdaily for 10days. I'm hesitant to take all this meds again (since they didn't seem to work before)-and how they will effect my body in the long term. I feel hopeless as if I do not know why nothing is working. This did not start until i started dating my bf of 4yrs. Dr has told me that this is not something couples pass? From reading your blog-seems that this can come and go w/o treatment? My dr says he doesn't want to overmedicate me b/c my body might become immune to the antibiotics. I'm just at a loss right now of what to do.

   

• At Thu Aug 07, 05:57:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous July 31: I think you should seek out an expert in recurrent/persistent bacterial vaginosis. You may have some sort of immunologic deficit or medical condition that has not become obvious, or even a structural abnormality (polyp or fibroid) that is preventing you from keeping this in check. There are perhaps even some dietary regimens that might help. Have you and your partner considered using a condom when you have intercourse to see if that helps? By the way, what part of the country do you live in? Perhaps I know someone in your region who can help. Dr T

   

• At Wed Aug 20, 05:20:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I am 38 weeks pregnant and tested negative for group b strep . However, a friend of mine who has tested positive for it (and had a baby a few months ago) recently came over with some baby gifts for me. I was wondering, is there any way after my baby is born that it could get strep b from contact with her gifts, say if i use the blanket she gave me (I think she used it on her own baby before she gave it to me), or if she touched things in my nursery that the baby will come in contact with? I am just confused as to how this stuff is contracted and the last thing I would want is to expose my baby to this awful bacteria, even if I am negative. I realize I'm probably worried about nothing, but I just need someone to alleviate my fears!

   

• At Thu Aug 21, 09:11:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  To anonymous,Thu Jul 31, 07:53:00 AM 2008 and Dr. T, I too suffer from longterm persistent and reoccuring BV. I am extremely frustrated, emotional, and embarassed by the odor. Can you please recommend an expert in the DC Metropolitan area? I am not worried about expense at this point.

   

• At Fri Aug 22, 10:12:00 AM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous AUG 20: Since 20-40% of ALL people you come in contact with carry GBS, you will go crazy worrying about this. Your friend may not even have it anymore. Rest easy and enjoy your delivery. Odds are everything will be just fine from that standpoint. Dr T

   

• At Fri Aug 22, 04:52:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Aug 21: I will try to find out who is in the DC area. In the meantime, how old are you, do you have any medical problems, are you taking any medications, how long have you had the problem, what has been done to evaluate you so far, and, has any treatment helped at all? Dr T

   

• At Fri Aug 22, 08:48:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  Hi Dr.T, I'm the 28yr old "anonymous,Thu Jul 31, 07:53:00 AM 2008 " thank you for offering to help find a specialist, I'm in the Burbank, CA area. I started the ampicillin treatment 4xday for 10 days a few days after my post. i was having irritation in my vagina and anus, and for some reason i was feeling very bloated/constipated more than I have ever experienced. A couple of days after starting the ampicillin most of my symptoms started to go away (and fulconase to treat the yeast infection). My rectum area was still itchy though. I make sure I'm dry and clean after using the restroom and wash myself-and this irritation only starts to happen when I get an infection. My Dr did another culture after I finished the ampicillin and so far i'm GBS free (yay!). My Dr did a BV quick test in office and told me I had BV again so he prescribed Clindesse. A one time cream insert. Is this a new product? After 4 yrs of struggling with BV & GBS i've always been given flagyl and/or metrogel which is a 7day process and would give me a yeast infection! Although the lab results showed that I did not have BV but tests showed I had a UTI, so I was prescribed nitrofurantoin monoh 2xday for 7days. The UTI medication helped with the rectum itching. I'm feeling as close to normal as I've felt since May but I still would like to get a second opinion. Thank you very much for having this website.

   

• At Tue Aug 26, 06:23:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Aug 22: I think you have found a very caring and patient doctor and you ARE making progress. Try to focus on the positives right now - there is nothing harder than getting it out of our little heads sometims that we have "chronic disease". Hopefully, somewhere down the line, this will have just all been a bad dream. Does your doctor have access to a counselor in Mind, Body, Spirit" work. That might really be what you need now! Good luck and thanks for updating us. Dr T

   

• At Fri Sep 05, 07:30:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  Hello Dr., my wife had her blood and urine work done a week after a positive home pregnancy test. The blood work came back normal but her urine test came back GBS+. Her OB is not alarmed & did not indicate that she been seen sooner. Is it advisable to treat with antibiotics now (~4-5 weeks pregnant)?

   

• At Sun Sep 07, 02:51:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  Hi,
  
  I'm at wits end. Have been suffering from vaginal redness, soreness, swelling, blisters, frequent UTI's and have been diagnosed with GBS twice in the last 5 months. Am currently on detrol (for urinary symptoms) Amoxicillin Trihydrate, and nadolol for High blood pressure). Am taking vitamins, eating lots of probiotics and takin acidopholus. Nothing is working. Dr. says she thinks my immune system is out of whack. Can't sit, stand or sleep. Have lost 12 lbs. Don't know what to do. Can you offer any help?

   

• At Tue Sep 09, 04:13:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  Hi Dr im 17 years old happily married and 36 weeks pregnant and i just found out today that i gbs positive all my doctor told me was that i have to have antibiotics in my iv while giving birth. But when i came home and looked it up for my self on the computer reading all these stories im really scared of the meningitis to get to my baby im very worried and dont know what to think.

   

• At Sun Sep 21, 06:33:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Sept 5: If your wife has a GBS+ urinary tract infection, that should be treated. GBS UTIs put her at greater risk for complications later in the pregnancy as well: premaature rupture of membranes and premature labor. She should be treated prophylactically with anitbiotics at the time of delivery. Good luck! Dr T

   

• At Sun Sep 21, 06:36:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Sept 7: If there are blisters, you could have a gential herpes infection. Regardlesss, if your doctor cannot figure out what is going on, she should send you to someone who can help you. Ask for a referral to a specialist. Good luck. Dr T

   

• At Sun Sep 21, 06:39:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Sept 9: Why were you tested for GBS so early or did you have a GBS+ urinary tract infection? Regardless, the standard of care is to simply treat any active urinary tract infections DURING the pregnancy and give prophylactic antibiotics when you present in labor. Remember, many, many, many women carry GBS, but only a few will be at risk for fetal/neonatal complications. Best wishes. Dr T

   

• At Tue Sep 23, 12:22:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Sept 9: Reprise - oops, I thought you said you were tested for GBS at 17 weeks! I must be getting old. Anyway, otherwise the answer holds. Prophylactic antibiotics in labor is the standard of care and offers very good protection for the baby. Just go in early in labor and IMMEDIATELY if you break your bag of waters. Dr T

   

• At Wed Oct 01, 02:09:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  Just to try to understand exactly what I have read: My husband has an enlarged prostate and gave a sperm sample to see if there was an infection in his prostate. In the sperm sample, they found the bacteria of Strep B. We conceived 2 weeks ago so I just want to be sure that the sperm do not carry the Strep B to the egg and cause problems with the developing fetus? You had mentioned to another poster that the GBS does not travel through cells such as sperm. So should I just get tested later in my pregnancy and then get antibiotics if I am a GBS carrier or should I do something now?

   

• At Wed Oct 08, 12:08:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Oct 1: Routine testing is done for GBS during pregnancy at 35-36 weeks. Women who devlop unrinary tract infections with GBS may have it picked up sooner. We also routinely check for GBS when there is evidence of premature labor or premature rupture of the membranes. If GBS is found at anytime during the pregnancy, you will be prophylactically treated for it in labor to help prevent transmission to your baby. Best wishes and thanks for writing!
  Dr T

   

• At Mon Oct 13, 04:27:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I made a visit to my OB/GYN a few weeks back because of daily spotting and a missed period. I am not pregnant, but cultures showed Bacterial Vaginosis and Group B Strep. I had been on Flagyl for 4 days because she looked under the microscope that day and saw the BV. So, she D/C'd the Flagyl and prescribed Clindamycin 4x day for 7 days. I didn't take the antibiotic as prescribed- although I finished it, it took me 14 days to take all the pills. By the end of the first round, however, I started having symptoms of a uti. I called her and explained things and she said she'd like to re-treat and have me do a 2nd round of clindamycin.
  
  My question is, can GBS cause spotting? And why would I go from being a carrier (which I have been since before I had my first child), to being infected with GBS? Is there something else wrong with me? Because on top of the uti symptoms (constant urge, burning sensation midstream, heavy feeling in pelvis), I'm spotting again. Ultrasound was clear, except for mulitple follicles suggesting possible PCOS. Aren't GBS uti's pretty rare?

   

• At Fri Oct 17, 11:29:00 AM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  Hello Dr. T,
  I recently had what I thought was an infected cut between my anus and vagina. It started out small and developed into a big painful sore.This had never happened to me before and I go see my OBGYN the very second I think that something is wrong. I'm 27 and have never had a issue like this but when my culture and blood work came back it was positive for Herpes and Strep B. I know that one is bacteria and one is a virus but is it known for Strep B to be present during a Herpes outbreak?

   

• At Fri Oct 17, 12:38:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Oct 13: You should also be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia with those symptoms. Netithe of the antibiotics you were on would treat those very well. GBS UTIs arecommon and should be treated as aggresively as any UTI. Again, those antibiotics are not adequate for that coverage. The clindamycin might be of some benefit, but it is not ideal. Once you get all this behind you, you should be evaluated for 'something else' if you need to be. For example, PCOS is frequently associated with diabetes and decreased resistance to infections. If you are older or overweight this would be a high priority for evaluation. Let us know what you find out. Best of luck! Dr T

   

• At Sat Oct 18, 03:26:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  Hi, i am 20 yrs old. i am at work at the hospital and i was browsing through my lab history on a computer and i've come across a lab result from dec. 2007 that i have never seen before. December was when i had my first pap smear. the report says there were multiple specicies present Streptococcus agalactiae group B and also Staphylococcus aureus. I have no idea what they are and i've been googling and i've come across this site. i think Streptococcus agalactiae is GBS. my OBGYN never mentioned these test results to me. I am a little concerned because i have a history of kidney stones. i managed to catch a kidney stone and tried to figure out what kind it was by comparing it with pictures online. it looks like a kind called struvite. i read that this type of kidney stone can be caused by bladder infections. if GBS causes bladder infections could this be why i have all these kidney stones????

   

• At Wed Oct 22, 04:44:00 PM 2008,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Oct 18: Many women are colonized by GBS and have absolutely no complications from that. I doubt that asymptomatic colonization is contributing to your kidney stones, but do you get frequent urinary tract infections?
  Dr T

   

• At Sun Oct 26, 03:48:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  Hi, im 24 years old and three weeks ago i miscarried at 17 weeks and have been diagnosed with group b strep and staphylococcus aurerus. I have 2 perfectly healthy children, I am wanting other children but i'm so scared at the same time i am currently having treatment for both as they were sensitive to what i have been prescribed with. I was wondering will the medication get rid of this nasty infection and will it be safe to try again for a baby in the future. Or will it always be there ????

   

• At Sun Nov 23, 06:14:00 PM 2008,  Anonymous said…

  I just lost my daughter (she was still born) a week and a day ago. At 35 weeks I tested "negative" for GBS but when they tested the placenta after birth it tested postive on both sides for GBS. Is this possibl? I think the lab did the test wrong. What do I do, is this even possible to test negative but the placenta be infected?

   

• At Mon Aug 24, 12:13:00 PM 2009,  Anonymous said…

  Hi - I am getting a little confused about strep b and uti info. Hoping you can help me clarify. I am 7 weeks pregnant and was just diagnosed with a UTI with Strep B(asymptomatic - it was done as part of my first visit screen). The nurse called and wants me to start ampicillin (5oo mg 4x/day for 7 days) immediately. I have currently taken no medication (not even a tylenol) during this pregnancy (my first). I keep reading that strep b does not require tx but then saw that it may with a uti - I did not know symptom-less UTI's were possible. I am very much wanting to not take any medication - your thoughts on this are greatly appreciated.

   

• At Sat Jan 09, 04:37:00 PM 2010,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Jan 7: I am not sure this is at all related to GBS - in fact it most likely is not. Have your doctors tried an empiric course of Azithromycin for 5 days and metronidazole 500mg three time per day for a week. By the way, where in your back is the pain? Please let me know how you do.
  Dr T

   

• At Tue Jan 26, 02:32:00 PM 2010,  Anonymous said…

  Hi, I have just been diagnosed with GBS. Prior to the GBS I was diagnosed with anal fissure and it also felt like I was getting a yeast infection, I was having a copious amount of yellow discharge with irritation and small amount of itching. Was prescribed Diflucan which didn't work. Went back to MD and had vaginal c&s done. She put me on Doxycycline with a shot of rocephin till the cultures came back. Now I'm prescribed amoxicillin. Also during the pelvic exam (I've had a hysterectomy), I had pelvic pain. Will I always test positive for GBS? Will I spend the rest of my life on and off antibiotics? Am I at higher risk for vaginal cancer?

   

• At Thu Jan 28, 05:36:00 PM 2010,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Jan 26: Most people who have GBS are chronically colonized with it throughout their adult lives. I really doubt the vaginal discharge was due to GBS alone. If it returns, I would suggest your doctor treat you with metronidazloe. As far as I know, GBS does not increase your risk for any cancer of the lower genital tract, but human papillomavirus does! Best wishes.
  Dr T

   

• At Wed Feb 03, 02:02:00 PM 2010,  Anonymous said…

  Anonymous:
  I delivered at 37 weeks a little boy. within 24 hours he developed sepsis from GBS and passed away. This was 9 weeks ago. I had preeclampsia and tested negative to GBS at 35 weeks and 37. My placenta was sent to pathology and it was found to have gbs in the placenta but not the umbilical cord. I dont understand how my son got this when i tested negative. Last friday i went to a new ob who cultured my urine, vagina, rectum and cervix to check for the presence of GBS and i am positive and on PCN. I am very concerned as i had to go through infetility to get pregnant the first time with my son and will need to do this again. If the GBS is present on my cervix and they do a IUI will it push it into my uterus and affect the baby before they develop? What are my chances again of delivering another child GBS positive. I was induced with lamineria, pitocin and had to have a emergency c section 14 hours into labor as the baby's heartrate was increasing. i just want to know what i need to do to prevent this from happening again. My current ob will test my urine and treat for any UTI's that are GBS positive and give me iv abx before he does the c section..please help i am so scared but want a family!!

   

• At Sun Feb 07, 01:31:00 PM 2010,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Feb 3: I am so sorry for your loss. It is possible that you were not cultured from the areas most likely to yield GBS - the lower third of the vagina and the rectum - or that the bacteria did not grow in the culture medium for some reason, or that you really did not have significant colonization at the times you were screened (had you been on any antibiotics before either of the GBS tests?). I am not so much worried about GBS affecting your infertility treatments as a cause for problems later in the pregnancy. And, I think your doctor has your best interests at heart already in terms of evaluation and treatment during the next pregnancy and at the delivery. You certainly should be given one or more doses of penicillin before delivery even if it an entirely elective procedure in view of the poor outcome this last time. Kind regards,
  Dr T

   

• At Mon Feb 08, 10:29:00 AM 2010,  Anonymous said…

  Dr T. my initial request was on Wed Feb 03, 02:02:00 PM 2010
  
  I was not on any antibiotics when they tested me for the GBS. The second time they tested me was the friday night before i delivered and it was after the lamineria was inserted. The only thing is that i was packed with gauze to hold the lamineria in place and maybe they could not get a good culture?
  What are the chances that i will deliver another child with GBS? will the GBS always be housed in my cervix? I am just so nervous and scared, i want a family so much but i can not go through this again. I should be with a high risk OB as i have von wildebrandts also and now with my son passing. Do you have any other suggestions? This new OB really seems on top of it and i am so lucky to have found him. We are planing on starting infertility again next month.

   

• At Thu Feb 11, 09:20:00 PM 2010,  Cortney said…

  Dr,
  
  I am 22 weeks pregnant and was recently diagnosed with GBS. I have been given an antibiotic (clendimycin I think) I'm allergic to PNC. The way my doctor described this I did not think it was anything to be worried about. Now After I've read all of these postings I am terrified. Is there something else I can do?! Are the chances high that my baby will not survive?! Will I take him/her home only for her to get sick in the following weeks and die?! Should I regularly take her temp when I do take her home? What other precautions should I take when i go into labor?? Thank you...

   

• At Sun Feb 14, 09:48:00 AM 2010,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Feb 8: I cannot tell you what your risks are for having another child with GBS but it is greater than that of the general population. GBS colonizes the gastrointestinal tract and many people are chronically colonized by it and in other cases it comes and goes. I think it would be very wise to have a preconceptional counseling session with a Maternal-Fetal Medicine physician who can outline a plan for reducing your risks with a subsequent pregnancy. Best wishes for the future.
  Dr T

   

• At Sun Feb 14, 09:52:00 AM 2010,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To Cortney: Slow down girl! 30-40% of all pregnant women are colonized by GBS. Most women have absolutely no complications. Treatment in labor prior to delivery dramatically reduces your risk. Even if you weren't treated, the baby does have a 50% chance of contracting the bacteria at delivery, but only a 1-2% chance of having a serious problem. Discuss your concerns abut follow-up after the baby is born with your pediatrician. Relax and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy! Best wishes.
  Dr T

   

• At Wed Feb 17, 06:03:00 PM 2010,  Anonymous said…

  Hi I'm 37 weeks pregnant and I was tested for GBS last week and at my doctor's visit today, they said I tested positive. So I was informed as to how I'll be recieving antibiotics for the GBS, but my concern is even though it will help reduce my baby of getting it will I be treated from it completely after giving birth? Also, if I'm still being sexually active with my boyfriend(father of my child) have I passed it on to him? I was told it was not sexually transmitted, but I've heard you can get it from touching and we kiss and touch all the time. So I just want to know if I've given it to him and if he needs to be tested for it and if I'll be completely treated from it after giving birth.

   

• At Fri Feb 19, 09:11:00 AM 2010,  Anonymous said…

  Hi Doctor Trofatter,
  Let me start by saying I am NOT pregnant.It's really difficult to find any information on GBS for women who are not pregnant. Thanks for lending your expertise to us out there. My body is completely out of whack right now. about 3 weeks ago, I started having itching, odor and light pink spotting. I had used Plan B b/c I started my pill pack a date late and was being extra cautious. I am with a new partner and with exception to one night, we use condoms on top of my taking the pill. I thought the spotting was from the Plan B and the itching was from the fact that I was ovulating (about a week before my period, my vagina gets extremely itchy). But I was concerned, so I went to my gyno who diagnosed me with BV (I was also tested for chlamydia/gonorrhea and results were negative). I took 7days worth of oral flagyl--symptoms cleared up minimally--I was then given another round of flagyl, but in the form of vaginal metrogel. After 5 days of that, symptoms were worse. I was then diagnosed with a yeast infection (a common side effect of flagyl as I understand it). I will be taking Diflucan today. However, I just got another call from my gyno saying that I have Strep B, which originated from the stomach. I am not pregnant. I have never had anything in my life other than a yeast infection. Why am I now, all of a sudden, having all of these different bacterial infections? My partner had both a blood and urine test done last week with results coming back negative for all STDs. I do understand that GBS is naturally occurring and becomes an issue in only a few people, but what triggered this infection in me at this time? On top of the flagyl, which I've finished taking (both oral and vaginal cream), the diflucan which I will take today, and now penicillin, do you think that my body is just out of whack and freaking out b/c of all of this medicine and one antibiotic that treats one symptom creates another? This is very upsetting to me. By the way, I do not have a UTI or any symptoms of a UTI--and it seems like many posts link GBS and UTI.

   

• At Sun Feb 21, 05:47:00 PM 2010,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous feb 17: It is VERY hard to completely "cure" you of GBS. It is carried in the gastrointestinal tract and about 30% of all individuals are chronic carriers. Some people keep the bacteria in better check than others and some can be exposed regularly and never become carriers. I would keep kissing and touching and not worry about who may or may not be passing it to whom! Best wishes for the rest of the pregnancy.
  Dr T

   

• At Mon Feb 22, 04:22:00 PM 2010,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Feb 19; I am betting right now that you had a yeast infection to start with...that's why you didn't really get better on the flagyl. And, by the way, flagyl is NOT a common cause of yeast infections. It is an antibiotic that is highly specific for anaerobic bacteria and does not harm the normal healthy vaginal bacteria (lactobacilli) although other antibiotics such as penicillin certainly can. I would alos bet that you were already colonized with GBS as are about 30% of individuals and it also probably has nothing to do with your vaginal infection...they just happened to pick it up when the cultures were done. My suggestion is to aggressively treat the yeast infection, stay off other antibiotics, and first see if your symptoms resolve. You might also have a sensitivity to the condoms you are using, especially if they are latex. Best wishes and let me know how you do.
  Dr T

   

• At Wed Feb 24, 10:39:00 AM 2010,  Anonymous said…

  I sure am hoping that my ? gets answered... I am only 10 1/2 weeks pregnant and I am SO confused! I just got a phone call from the dr office telling me i tested positive for gsb and it is so weird I just got off of ampicillin about a week ago for a uti... But the internet makes this sound as though...Once i am a carrier then I am always a carrier and the dr office made it sound like I just need to take penicillin and I don't have ti worry about anything... I am really confused...Which one is it? Does it go away after meds or not? Also Is it really safe to take THIS much antibiotics so early in the pregnancy? First ampicillin and now this? If antibiotics take the good bacteria as well then how in the worls can it be safe for me to take so much while still in the first trimester??? I feel bad questioning what my dr tell me but this is my first pregnancy and I was told I would never conceive on my own... I am trying to do everything I can to just have a healthy baby... Please tell me you have some answers for me dr?? Thank-you

   

• At Thu Feb 25, 05:58:00 PM 2010,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Feb 24: If you had/have a GBS urinary tract infection, that does need to be treated and can be cleared. GBS UTIs seem to place the pregnancy at increased risks for complications. If it recurs, you will need to be retreated and in some cases may need to be on 'antibiotic suppressive therapy' for the duration of the pregnancy. Penicillins are very safe to take, even in first trimester. Remember, GBS tends to be carried in the gastrointestinal tract and you are correct, antibiotics usually do not successfully eradicate the bacterium from there. Broad spectrum antibiotics can harm the "good bacteria" in you vagina and allow overgrowth of the unfavorable bacteria or, more commonly, yeast, so if you develop a malodorous or itchy discharge, you need to discuss that with your doctor as well. Best wishes for the rest of the pregnancy and please let us know how things turn out.
  Dr T

   

• At Fri Feb 26, 01:33:00 PM 2010,  Anonymous said…

  When I was pregnant, I tested negative for group B strep. Then I was told that my placenta tested positive. I had a c-section so they weren't to worried about my daughter. But ever since her birth I have been extremely uncomfortable with burning, itching and a discharge. I have been treated several different times with antibiotics and still I am getting no relief. My hubsband was also treated with a cream. I have been cultured 3 times and the only thing that has shown up is group be step. I am so confused. Shouldn't the antibiotics clear it up? Also, should I worry about my daughter getting group b strep because I am have it now and I had it when she was born?

   

• At Fri Mar 05, 05:13:00 PM 2010,  Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., MD, PhD said…

  To anonymous Feb 26: Couple of questions: How long ago did you deliver? What antibiotics have you been treated with? Are you breastfeeding? Do you have any rash with this? Do you have any pain and if you do, what is the relationship of that to voiding?
  Dr T

   

Post a Comment

<< Home