EBB 261 - Ask Me Anything about Group B Strep

Evidence Based Birth®

In this bonus episode, we wrap up our 2-part series on Group B Strep in Pregnancy, where I answer some of your questions following the first two episodes.

Here are the questions answered in this bonus episode:

1. Is it possible to retest between an initial GBS swab and going into labor? Are there things that can be done to get a negative test before labor occurs?
2. If you are GBS positive in one pregnancy, are you likely to be positive in subsequent pregnancies?
3. Discussion about an important limitation to one of the studies in our GBS update.
4. Discussion about risk factors and the “Other Risk Factor” approach vs the Universal Screening approach
5. Is there evidence for screening for GBS twice in the same pregnancy?

Make sure you listen to Part 1 and Part 2 to review the updated GBS research.

Resources:

• Listen to EBB 254: Group B Strep in Pregnancy Part 1 here
• Listen to EBB 257: Group B Strep in Pregnancy Part 2 here
• Listen EBB 87: Cristen Pascucci on How to Disagree on Birth Topics Respectfully! here
• Learn more about the use of antibiotics in labor in our Pocket Guide to Labor Interventions

References:

• Parente V, Clark RH, Ku L, Fennell C, Johnson M, Morris E, Romaine A, Utin U, Benjamin DK, Messina JA, Smith PB, Greenberg RG. Risk factors for group B streptococcal disease in neonates of mothers with negative antenatal testing. J Perinatol. 2017 Feb;37(2):157-161. doi: 10.1038/jp.2016.201. Epub 2016 Nov 17. PMID: 27853322; PMCID: PMC5280520.
• Kabiri D, Hants Y, Yarkoni TR, Shaulof E, Friedman SE, Paltiel O, Nir-Paz R, Aljamal WE, Ezra Y. Antepartum Membrane Stripping in GBS Carriers, Is It Safe? (The STRIP-G Study). PLoS One. 2015 Dec 31;10(12):e0145905. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145905. PMID: 26719985; PMCID: PMC4697801.

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