Streptococcus B (Strept. Agalactiae) are bacteria that are very often found in the vagina and/or lower intestines of women. They do not pose any danger to a non-pregnant woman, because these bacteria can be part of the usual flora. In addition, even if this disease is treated, it may reappear in a few days.
It is also quite common during pregnancy - it is estimated that about 10% of pregnant women are carriers of streptococcus B.
The problem is that these bacteria can cause serious diseases in newborns. The fact that the risk of newborn disease is very low does not make things any easier. Although streptococcus B is transmitted from every second mother to a child at birth, only 1% of infected babies will develop a neonatal infection.
Thus, we are talking about a banal and common microbe that will return some time after the treatment of its carrier, which makes the treatment useless and dangerous. This microbe is very often transmitted to newborns, without causing any harm to the latter, except for 1% of babies.
Taking into account these features of the disease, the scientific community recommends following the following recommendations:
Systematic diagnosis of Streptococcus B is recommended at the end of pregnancy, between 34 and 38 weeks of amenorrhea;
Treatment of an asymptomatic disease in women at the beginning and middle of pregnancy is not justified. This means that Streptococcus B should not be treated during pregnancy, with the exception of the presence of infectious signs or a dangerous condition of the patient (rupture of the amniotic membranes).
But in case of a positive test result during childbirth, it is necessary to carry out antiobiotic prophylaxis. It is performed with penicillin antibiotics (penicillin or amoxicillin).
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