Question from a Parent
My daughter is expecting her second child (13 weeks pregnant). Her doctor has diagnosed her with “beta hemolytic strep”. She has been through several courses of antibiotics, and the infection persists. What are the dangers to the infant? How likely are those outcomes? What is the danger to my daughter?
Dear Parent:
There is no real danger to your daughter from this organism and as long as your physician follows one of the accepted guidelines from treating patients with group B strep in pregnancy, there is minimal risk to the baby. The greatest risk to the baby is if the mother has premature rupture of membranes or a long labor and does not receive antibiotics designed to attack this bacteria.
Your daughter’s doctor may not be able to clear this organism from your daughter during this pregnancy, and this is not uncommon.