Group B streptococcus (group B strep) is a common bacterium often carried in the intestines or lower genital tract. Although group B strep is usually harmless in adults, it can be serious for the newborns.But if you're pregnant, a group B strep screening test in the third trimester and antibiotic treatment during labor can help protect your baby.

Strep beta hemolytic (or haemolytic, depending which country you're in) group B is another term for group B Streptococcus. Group B Strep may be passed from one person to another through skin to skin contact, for example, hand contact, kissing, close physical contact, etc. As group B Strep is often found in the vagina and rectum of colonised women, it can be passed from one person to another through sexual contact. There are no known harmful effects of carriage itself and, since the group B Strep bacteria do not cause genital symptoms or discomfort, group B Strep '''carriage is not a sexually transmitted disease, nor is''' group B Strep carriage a sign of ill health or poor hygiene. No-one should ever feel guilty or dirty for carrying group B Strep - it's normal.

For more information, go to www.gbss.org.uk www.gbs.org

No

I think you mean to say you have a group B strep infection.

There is no need.

Group B strep, if present, can cause problems for the pregnancy but it is a normal colonizing bacteria, not an infection that can be caught.