Can someone please explain Strep B to me in very basic language

[WhenAllTheCowsAreSleeping]

DDIL has a UTI and also Strep B.

I’ve googled of course but don’t really understand what I’m reading. She is young and they hope to start a family at some point but not just yet.

Thank you

It's a form of streptococcus bacteria. It's treatable with antibiotics.

It was one of the ones that came up on my swabs when I ended back in hospital after my ds was born but it wasn't a big problem (I did have IV antibiotics but I was fairly unwell - not just the strep, and they sorted the symptoms out within a couple of days).

Strep B can be serious if you're close to giving birth because it can transfer to the baby during childbirth (not in my case actually), but otherwise it's just good to know the bacteria so they can make sure she's on the right antibiotics.

I had Strep B during my recent pregnancy. Many women carry it, however it lies dormant until there's a culture change (such as a uti). I had no symptoms, and it's not routinely tested for during pregnancy so she'll need to let midwives know she's had it as it can come and go. If Strep b positive during end of pregnancy then she'll go into hospital as soon as waters have broken or contractions and regular so that IV antibiotics can be administered as strep b can be dangerous for babies. Luckily both DD and I are absolutely fine.

Hope my garbled response makes some kind of sense, DD is only 19 days old!

It’s a generally harmless bacteria to women, and lots of women will have it but it’s transient so somebody may never test positive.

If it is transmitted to a baby during labour (via the birth canal) then there is potential that the baby could become infected and it can be very serious for babies. However, the chances of the baby becoming infected are very small.

The fact your daughter has tested positive for it now will be irrelevant for when she becomes pregnant. She will only be treated as GBS positive if she tests positive at some point in pregnancy.

I'm not a medic but have read up on it a lot, so happy to be corrected.
One in four women will have active strep b when they go into labour without knowing, and the vast majority don't pass it on to the babies. Strep b can come and go out of being dormant pretty quickly which is why they don't test - in the few weeks it takes to get results lots will have switched to having it or not having it. The other option if you don't want precautionary antibiotics is monitoring baby's temp every 3 hours for the first 18.

Lots of people are correct in what they are saying in regards to GBS and pregnancy/childbirth. However the OPs DD is not pregnant.
She may be offered a test during pregnancy as she has been positive for it previously, however this is usually only if they have tested positive for it in a previous pregnancy.

its very very unlikely she will be offered antibiotics in labour if she has not tested positive for GBS in pregnancy.

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain.