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Re: Infection
From: Amy (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu, 22 Jun 2000 14:38:02 -0500 (CDT)
I am not a doctor, but as I understand it, because Group B Strep occurs
naturally in the flora of many women, you take the oral antibiotics for
10 days and kill the bacteria, but it may reoccur as soon as you stop
and if you haven't delivered it can still pose a problem to the baby at
the time of birth. This bacteria is known to come and go in the vaginal
flora of women. When you are given I.V. antibiotics during labor, it
guarantees (mostly) that the bacteria will be gone by the time the baby
is born and doesn't give the bacteria time to reoccur.
I wish I give you reassurance about the ampicillin, but I am sure a
doctor will answer your questions. Good Luck!
At Thu, 22 Jun 2000, sharon wrote:
>
>Why is oral medication not preferred and IV antibiotics are preferred
>during labor.Are there any specific reasons .Also my question Is it safe
>to take such a high dosage of ampicillin (500 mg 4 times a day for 10
>days)for the baby is stil not answered.
>
>At Thu, 22 Jun 2000, Claudia Twisdale RN wrote:
>>
>>I realize that the debate on group B strep rages on, to test and treat,
>>or to wait and see. As most of the Docs here say it usually is harmless
>>to all involved. BUT having worked with a couple of babies that
>>"crashed" from group b strep infection and had multiple problems, I
>>think screening is a wise choice. (Sorry Docs)
>>
>>At Wed, 21 Jun 2000, jwang, M.D. wrote:
>>>
>>>Group B strep is causing a lot of headaches for everyone. Unfortunately,
>>>there is a hysteria going on about this bacteria. First, GBS is
>>>considered a colonization - meaning that for healthy people, it is a
>>>normal bacteria in their system. About 30% of women have GBS. During
>>>pregancy, GBS is treated if there is found in the bladder by urine
>>>culture. Otherwise it is treated if there is preterm labor.
>>>There are two ways to manage GBS. One protocol involves NOT doing
>>>screening cultures on all pregnant patients, but only treat with
>>>antibiotics for certain risk factors during labor. The other protocol
>>>screens all pregnant women near term and then all women testing positive
>>>for GBS are treated with antibiotics during labor.
>>>
>>>The actual infection rate of neewborns with GBS is small. The serious
>>>infection rate is even smaller. Though some babies have died from
>>>overwhelming infection, the numbers are very, very small.
>>>
>>>If you are positive for GBS, Amy is right, oral treatment for GBS is NOT
>>>standard of care, treatment during labor is. One reason to give you
>>>oral antibiotics is if you have fast labors, and your cervix is starting
>>>to dilate. In such a case, there may not be enough time to adequately
>>>treat with antibiotics when labor kicks in. Be sure to ask your doc
>>>about the treatment. Ask her to review the CDC protocol again, better
>>>yet, the ACOG recommendations.
>>>
>>>At Wed, 21 Jun 2000, sharon wrote:
>>>>
>>>>At Wed, 21 Jun 2000, sharon wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>Hi,
>>>>>I am 37 weeks pregnant,just entered into my 38 week.In my 36 week I went
>>>>>for the internal examination .Couple of days back the doctor said that
>>>>>Group B Septra of vagina that she did during internal examination came
>>>>>out positive and this infection should be cleared before I deliver since
>>>>>it could be dangerous to the baby. She has told me to take ampicillin
>>>>>500mg 4 times a day for 10 days.My questions are
>>>>>1.Is this infection harmful to the baby till I deliver.
>>>>>2.Is it harmful to the baby at the time of delivery.
>>>>>6.What way is it harmful to the baby if passed to the baby.
>>>>>3.What if this infection is not cleared and I have to deliver all of
>>>>>sudden since I have already entered into my 38 week and I have just
>>>>>completed 1 day course.
>>>>>4 .Is it safe to take such a high dosage of ampicillin for the baby and
>>>>>that also for such a lo0ng time.
>>>>>5.what could be the possible side effects of the medicine.
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks
>>>
>>>--
>>>J Wang, M.D
>>>Assitant Clinical Prof.
>>>Tufts University School of Medicine
>>>
>>>>**Note: Opinions expressed here are for educational purposes only
>>>>and, as such, do not constitute a physician-patient relationship.
>>>>This information is not intended to supplant the need for you to
>>>>consult with your physician prior to choosing therapeutic options
>>>>and/or interventions.>
>>>
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