What Can We Currently Do to Help Prevent Prenatal-onset Group B Strep Disease?

10/4/2018

Presented by Marti Perhach, BS

Measurable Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this presentation, participants should be able to…
1. Identify the signs and symptoms of preterm labor
2. Identify signs and symptoms of infection in unborn babies

ABOUT THE PRESENTER:

Marti Perhach, BS
Marti Perhach cofounded Group B Strep International (GBSI) in 2006. Previously she had served as President for GBSI's sister organization, The Jesse Cause, since 1999. GBSI was cofounded to expand the scope and audience of the GBS awareness campaign. She also serves as GBSI’s CEO. Her background is Business Administration with a major in Hotel & Restaurant Management and a minor in Marketing from Cal Poly Pomona. Marti enjoys organizing conference exhibits to share information on how to help protect babies from group B strep disease. Marti's daughter, Rose, was stillborn in 1998 due to group B strep.

Kristen Entze

10/18/2018 10:53:17 am

Number one thing we can do is educate! Both of my Dr's each time I tested positive for GBS never let me know of risks and what it really meant. All I was told is that I would have to have antibiotics during delivery. I know there is a level of self educating but you can't expect your patients to go home and do the research I know I didn't which I so regret not doing. My doctors made it seem like it wasn't a big deal so I wasn't worried at all and maybe they didn't even know what the risks really were and what they could do to protect us like not stripping my membranes or performing cervical exams. Unfortunately I feel like sometimes the unthinkable has to happen before some providers will even consider it being a risk or something to really educate their patients about. I would love some ideas of how I can help educate the care providers in my area! I've thought they are all busy and it would be impossible for me to meet with each one but I could mail them information. There have also been numerous women I've spoken to who tested positive before in their pregnancies and had no idea that stillbirth or anything bad could happen to their babies from it. So I'm trying to do what I can in my small sphere to help educate mothers.

Marti Perhach

10/18/2018 03:53:57 pm

Yes, education is key to be able to help protect our babies. Sometimes something as simple as knowing what to communicate could make all the difference. GBSI has packets of sample materials you can mail providers in your area (glad to ship you a box!) and then they can order what they need at gbsi.me/store -- it's all complimentary including shipping for our educational materials.

Also, GBS mom, Bevin Tomlin, thought of a super efficient way to spread GBS info throughout her state of Alabama. She partnered with the Perinatal Division of the Alabama Department of Public Heath to have our brochure and status cards distributed throughout the state via the nurse managers. Tear sheets for both GBS+ and GBS- women could be printed out as needed for providers to give their patients when they got their GBS test results. More about her campaign is here: https://www.groupbstrepinternational.org/al.html. Bevin has also organized GBS exhibits at Babypalooza Maternity and Baby Expos throughout her area.

Some parents have partnered with their local hospitals to give out info and talking to the health section editor about a GBS article in your local paper is also an easy way to get info out to your community.

Glad to provide materials or help in any way we can with your educational efforts!

Belzile Nadine

10/20/2018 07:48:17 pm

Excellent presentation, Marti :-) Personally, I think that even trace amounts of GBS in the urine should warrant treatment with antibiotics, or at least a follow-up test and closer monitoring.

10/21/2018 08:41:22 am

Thank you, Nadine! Excellent thought about how to help protect babies during pregnancy. Currently, to my understanding, the implications of trace amounts (bacteriuria, but not UTI levels) of GBS in urine wouldn’t generally be considered again until the mom was given IV antibiotics during labor and delivery and not at all if she was having a planned c-section —possibly a lot of missed opportunity to keep a baby healthy until then.

I don’t believe there have been any studies done on the benefits of urine culturing again later during pregnancy if the mom’s urine has tested negative, but that may be beneficial, too.

Comments are closed.