Chutian Metropolis Daily (Reporter Lu Rui, Correspondent Gao Xiang) Beibei, who was born a week ago, was diagnosed with sepsis caused by Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection in the obstetrics department of Zhongnan Hospital yesterday. Experts call on pregnant women to strengthen GBS screening during pregnancy.
Professor Li Jiafu, director of the obstetrics department of the hospital, said GBS can cause neonatal sepsis, pneumonia, meningitis, and even death. At the same time, it can also cause infection, premature birth, fetal dysplasia, premature rupture of membranes and late miscarriage in pregnant women.
GBS usually occurs in the vagina and rectum of pregnant women, and infection with GBS does not cause disease in normal healthy people. According to statistics, about 11% of pregnant women are infected with GBS, and 40% to 70% of them will be transmitted to newborns during delivery. If newborns carry this bacteria, about 1% to 3% will develop early infiltrative infection.
Li Jiafu called on pregnant women to undergo GBS screening at 35-37 weeks of pregnancy. Those with positive results can avoid the possibility of infecting their babies after receiving appropriate treatment.