Group B strep (Streptoccal ) is a type of bacteria. It is not a sexually transmitted disease. If affects both men and women with between 2-4 women in 10 affected. Most people are unaware they have it. It usually lives harmlessly, in the intestines, rectum or vagina.
Currently a large 2 year trial looking at routine testing for Group B Strep is being carried out at Derriford hospital in Plymouth, the first in the UK to take part. If the trial is successful, it may be rolled out across the country. Women have campaigned for the need for screening for some time and this news has been received extremely positively by pregnant women and by families who have been affected by the loss of their babies as a result of this infection. Group B Strep is not routinely tested for in the UK, but may be detected as a result of other tests for other reasons, for example vaginal swab or urine tests. It is usually harmless and will rarely cause problems for you or your baby. However, there is a small risk of it spreading to the baby during labour and this can make the baby very unwell with infection. There is a very small risk of miscarriage or stillbirth. In some countries including Europe, the screening for Group B Strep is carried out in the later stages of pregnancy but it was concluded by the UK National Screening Committee that there was not enough evidence to introduce a national screening programme here.
If you have a positive test to Group B Strep, or have had a baby affected by Group B Strep in a previous pregnancy, you will be offered antibiotics during labour. If you have had the bacteria in a previous pregnancy but your baby was unaffected, you can choose to have antibiotics during labour or to have a swab at 37/40 to determine if you are carrying Strep B. There are other circumstances in which your risk may be increased (e.g. preterm labour) and your clinicians will discuss and advise accordingly.
You will be given an information leaflet on Group B Strep by your midwife to ensure you have been fully informed and are aware of the options.
The research is being carried out by the Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme and sponsored by the University of Nottingham. Participating hospitals will be randomised into the trial with the aim to assess 320,000 women from 80 hospital maternity units. The aim is to determine if routinely screening women for group B Strep will reduce the number of infections in newborn babies.
For more information on the trial, you can visit: Home (gbs3trial.ac.uk)