QuestionYes, I am 20 yrs old & I was wondering how ususal it is for an infant to die of Group B Strep. See I had twins & one of them died of group b strep & I was seeing how likely it was for a baby to get it even if you had a c-section & if you could be treated for it during your pregnancy? I was also seeing what was PNV & what did it stand for? Because we have had a lot of problems trying to get answers from my doctor. Can you please help me & tell me all that you possibly can?
AnswerGroup B streptococcus (GBS) is a gram positive coccus that frequently colonizes the human genital, gastrointestinal tracts and the upper respiratory tract in young infants. It can be acquired in utero or during passage through the vagina. Some evidence suggests that vaginal colonization with a high inoculum of GBS during pregnancy leads to premature virth. In pregnant women it is a frequent cause of urinary tract infection, chorioamnionitis, postpartum endometritis, and bacteremia. Before prevention was introduced, early onset disease was the most common form of infection and generally presented at or within 12 hours of birth but can occur through day siz of life. The primary risk factor for GBS infection in the neonate is maternal GBS genitourinary or gastrointestinal colonization. The rate of transmission from colonized mothers to infants is approximately 50%. However, only 1-2% of all colonized iinfants develop GBS disease. Several maternal obstetrical factors have been associated with increased risk of developing early onset GBS disease. Risk factors include:
delivery at less than 37 weeks gestation, premature rupture of membranes, rupture of membranes for 18 or more hours prior to delivery, chorioamnionitis, temerature greater than 38 degrees C during labor, sustained fetal tachycardia, and prior delivery of an infant with GBS disease. Signs of the disease in the newborn are sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis.Once it is diagnosed in the baby, antibiotic therapy will be started. In 2002, new guidelines were established for the prevention of GBS in the newborn. All pregnant women should be screened for GBS colonization with swabs of both the lower vagina and rectum at 35-37 weeks gestation. Prophylaxis is given in labor to all pregnant women with a positive screening culture unless a planned cesarean section is performed in the absence of labor or rupture of membranes. Pregnant women who gave birth to a previous infant with GBS will also be treated. Women whose culture status is unknown or who did not have a culture done will also be treated with prophylactic therapy. Prophylaxis is NOT recommended for a patient who undergoes a planned cesarean section without labor or rupture of membranes. The recopmmended treatment is Penicillin G 5million units IV as an initial dose followed by 2.5 million units every 4 hours until the patient delivers the baby. If, during the pregnancy, the patient complains of a urinary tract infection and culture grows GBS, she should be treated during pregnancy. Usually, GBS does not get through intact fetal membranes and should not infect the infant if an elective cesarean section is performed. However, if you were in labor prior to the cesarean section, or had ruptured your membranes prior to the cesarean section, treatment whould have been given. We do not treat GBS during the pregnancy unless it is found in your urine. When we culture it at 36 weeks and find it, we predict that by 40 weeks (when you go into labor) there will be copious numbers of bacteria and that is why you are treated in labor. I do not know what PNV refers to. It may stand for a type of Penicillin (PenVK), but it might refer to something altogether different. You will have to ask at the hospital. I'm sorry for your loss. Good luck to you.
