Group B strep infection in urine

[JessieMcJessie]

Letter today from hospital to say this has been found. Means I will need IV antibiotics in labour ( I am 29 weeks at moment).

However midwife letter says will just be discussed at my next appointment, but leaflet enclosed says urine infection should be treated with antibiotics immediately.
Has anyone else had this?

It's not the same as testing positive as a GBS carrier, this is an actual infection. I have no symptoms though, it was a routine test.

[camelfinger]

I had this. I also had no symptoms, just took a week of oral antibiotics at the time (similar number of weeks as you) and then had to have IV antibiotics in labour.

[OfficiallyUnofficial]

I had GBS with DD3 was in hospital for a week with her on ABs, she was fine, did have a family loss from it though so do take it seriously. He didn't get the ABs though Dr knew mum was a carrier 😡

As its a urine infection that means yes you need the ABs in labour but as it can RARELY cause issues in pregnancy I'd go to your GPs tomorrow and get treated. Midwives are crap at dealing with GBS effectively sometimes, they should have followed the leaflet guidance.

If you have any more questions /concerns call //www.gbss.org they are amazing x

[JessieMcJessie]

Thanks both. Sorry that your DD was affected oficially. Did they give you antibiotics in labour or did you not know you had it till afterwards?

[Mummyme87]

Just pop in to your GP with the letter and they should prescribe you some oral antibiotics to treat the urine infection. Then you will get IV antibiotics during labour. Although there is a huge cochrane review on this and it states IV antibiotics in labour are ineffective at passing through to baby for GBS; saying that most hospitals have not adjusted guidelines yet

[SpeckledFrog2014]

Like a pp said pop your letter into the GP and they will prescribe antibiotics. GBS in urine often has no symptoms, but if you leave it it can, I had about two weeks of confusion and cramping I put down to pregnancy symptoms and it was actually a GBS infection (my second one this pregnancy). The midwife took the infection seriously and was adamant I start talking my antibiotics immediately as utis can cause preterm labour.

You don't have to accept antibiotics in labour, but I am going to as I had a miscarriage my last pregnancy and don't want anything to go wrong this time around. There are alternative treatments like garlic tampons (I know) and intramuscular penicillin shots. My midwife said there has also been some research to suggest water births flush GBS from the body during childbirth. Obviously there's evidence for and against the standard to the bizarre treatment. The GBS support helpline is very good if you give them a call on 01444416176

[JessieMcJessie]

Mummyme

there is a huge cochrane review on this and it states IV antibiotics in labour are ineffective at passing through to baby for GBS; saying that most hospitals have not adjusted guidelines yet

Does that mean that the IV antibiotics probably don't work so even if I have them the baby is at risk of an infection that kills 1 in 10? Shit.

I'm seeing my GP later this morning.

[SpeckledFrog2014]

Jessie I would call the helpline if I were you they are very knowledgeable. They could also comment on the quality of the research when my midwife called on my behalf.

[JessieMcJessie]

Thanks

[SpeckledFrog2014]

All the best with your pregnancy and try not to stress too much about it

[Mummyme87]

Jessie, the 1:10 statistic is 1 in every baby that contracts GBS infection which is in fact very very rare. But yes, according to the review the intravenous antibiotics in labour are ineffective

[JessieMcJessie]

Yes, I had understood that Mummyme.

GBSS leaflet says "if you carry GBS this pregnancy, the chance your baby will develop GBS infection (without preventative medicine) is around 1 in 300. Having had GBS found in my urine increases the risk to 4 in 300.

So if the IV antibiotics are ineffective, there is a 4 in 300 risk he will get it and a 1 in 10 risk of death if he does.

On the current infection, I have been advised by GP and midwife that the level of infection in my urine is very low and I am to do a repeat sample to see if antibiotics needed now.

However that doesn't alter the fact that I am now confirmed as carrying GBS.

[CakeAndChocolate]

Jessie I have had a GBS urine infection in my last pregnancy and this pregnancy. You should get antibiotics to treat the urine infection now.

Even if you have the IV antibiotics in labour the hospital are supposed to keep you in for 24 hours and monitor baby, I think it is every hour for the first 12 hours and then every 4 after that. Most infections in babies show up in that time and baby can be treated quickly and easily with antibiotics.

I hadn't heard that IV antibiotics weren't effective at getting through to baby but thought the point was more that they killed the infection in mum before baby passes through birth canal, therefore reducing/eliminating risk of passing it on?

The GBS support website is very good and informative.

I completely freaked myself out about it last pregnancy, but the reality is, 1 in 3 (or 4) women carry this, most don't know and it is still very rare for a baby to contract it and rarer still for a baby to die. Yes it needs to be taken seriously, but the fact you know you have it puts you in a better position than most.

[Mummyme87]

Gbs is very common in women and is a transient infection so comes and goes. You may not carry it at the point of birth. As pp said, baby will be observed for 12-14hoirs post birth. We do 1st hour, 2nd hour, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 16th, 20th and 24th

[Batboobs]

I have seen several GP's about this after having a positive urine test, and only one reluctantly prescribed 3 days worth of antibiotics for it. I have been told over and over again that GBS wouldn't cause obvious symptoms of a urine infection, and that you can test positive/negative in cycles anyway. It hasn't shown up in my urine since, although I still have the same symptoms. Unsure what to believe really.