6.6 Informed Choice: GBS Testing and Treatment
6.6 Informed Choice: GBS Testing and Treatment
6.6 Informed Choice: GBS Testing and Treatment
Rachel Twelmeyer
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE GBS POSITIVE?
&
HOW DO YOU TEST FOR GBS STATUS?
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a type of bacteria that exists in the digestive tract. Although it usually
stays in the intestines, it can come down to the rectum, where it may move to the vagina and urinary
tract. Most people with GBS do not have any GBS infections or symptoms.
However, if the bacteria gets into your baby’s body it can grow rapidly and cause other conditions like
infection of the brain, lungs, or blood (Dekker, 2017). So if you’re GBS positive, it means that you have a
higher-than-normal amount of the GBS bacteria in your body, especially in the low intestines, rectum,
vagina, or urinary tract.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends measuring GBS with a culture test at 36-37 weeks
of pregnancy. This is done by swabbing the rectum and vagina with a Q-tip, and then the lab tests it to
see if GBS grows. This tells us whether there is too much GBS, and whether we should consider
treatment.
WHAT HAPPENS TO MY BABY IF I’M GBS POSITIVE?
If your baby is colonized by GBS (meaning, it enters her body during the birth) there is a chance that it
can turn into an infection. The death rate from early GBS infection is estimated at 2 to 3% for full-term
infants. This means of 100 babies who actually have a GBS infection, 2-3 will die.
Although the death rate of GBS is relatively low, infants with early GBS infections can still experience
long term complications, developmental problems, and there may be increased expenses for the family.
WHAT TREATMENT OPTIONS DO I HAVE?
Below are some alternative treatments. Research has not proven that these are effective at reducing
transmission rates of GBS, but they may be helpful in reducing your level of GBS colonization.
Alternative Treatments
Although not proven in clinical studies, there are some other options that can help lessen the impact of
GBS.
● The first is something called a Chlorhexidine (also known as Hibiclens) wash. This is an
antibacterial soap that isn’t irritating for most people. We typically rinse your vagina with
Chlorhexidine in the last part of labor.
● Garlic has antibacterial properties, and some websites recommend putting garlic in the vagina to
eliminate GBS before the GBS test.
● Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for you, especially your digestive system.
When you take a probiotic, it introduces these good bacteria into places like your intestines and
vagina, and the more good bacteria there is, the less space there is for the bacteria like GBS to
invade.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS AND BENEFITS OF EACH OPTION?
WHAT IF I CHOOSE TO NOT TEST FOR GBS?
&
WHAT IF I CHOOSE TO NOT TREAT IF I’M POSITIVE?
LOOKING FOR MORE RESOURCES?
Please choose one:
❏ I choose to screen for GBS.
❏ I choose to decline screening for GBS status.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
❏ I choose to receive IV antibiotic treatment during labor per the CDC’s recommendation.
❏ I will consult with my midwife as to an alternative treatment (this may include no
treatment.)
Parent Name: ________________________________________________________________ Date: _____________________
Parent Signature: _______________________________________________________________
Midwife Name: __________________________________________________________ Date: _____________________
Signature: _______________________________________________________________
References:
Dekker, R. (2017, June 25). Evidence on Group B Strep in Pregnancy. Retrieved from
https://evidencebasedbirth.com/groupbstrep/.