Informed Consent - Group Beta Strep
True informed consent requires the option of refusal too. Non-biased information is vitally important when parents are being asked to decide on their children's health care - no choice could be quite as salient of this point than GBS.
Excerpt: "Group B Strep stands for Beta-Hemolytic Streptococcus. This is a type of bacteria that is usually found in the lower intestines and in the vaginal canal in 10-35% of healthy adults.[1] GBS is not the same is Group A strep which causes strep throat and other diseases. Among pregnant women, 10-35% of women will be colonized and have GBS in their vaginal canal.[2] Most colonized women have no problems from GBS but in some cases the GBS can cause infections that can put an unborn baby at risk. For example, a GBS infection in the urinary tract can increase the risk of a premature birth.
Approximately 50% of babies who are exposed to GBS will become colonized with the vast majority having no problems. Of those,1-2 % will develop Early Onset GBS Diseases. Of that group, there is a 5-9% mortality rate. This means, if left untreated, 1 in 17 500 babies will die from Early Onset GBS Disease.
Around 80% of GBS cases among newborns occur within the first week of life. This is called early onset disease. Most of these babies are ill within a few hours of birth; most cases can be linked to a mother who is colonized with GBS. Babies who develop early onset disease may have one or more of the following; unstable temperature, breathing problems, grunting, fever, seizures, unusual change in behavior, stiffness and/or extreme limpness.[3]" © 2019 Augustine Colebrook All Rights Reserved
[1] Johri, A. K., et al. “Group B Streptococcus: global incidence and vaccine development.” Nat Rev Microbiol 4 vol 12 (2006): 932-942.
[2] Schuchat A. “Epidemiology of group B streptococcal disease in the United States: shifting paradigms.” Clin.Microbiol.Rev. 11, Vol 3(1998):497-513
[3] “GBS.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 17, 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/about/symptoms.html.