Streptococcus in a smear during pregnancy: causes, symptoms and treatment

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Pregnancy is accompanied not only by pleasant moments, but also by many mandatory tests and studies, one of which is taking a smear. With the normal development of pregnancy, the biological material should not contain any pathogenic bacteria that can have a negative impact on the body of a woman who is expecting a baby, and on the he alth of the unborn baby.

However, in some cases, streptococcus may be detected in the analysis of the expectant mother. Many women get upset and begin to sound the alarm. But not every representative of the fair sex knows what these bacteria are, and whether it is worth worrying if streptococcus was found in a smear during pregnancy.

More about bacteria

Streptococci are widespread pathogens. Bacteria are the causative agent of various diseases in animals and humans. They arecan live on the skin, mucous membranes, including in pregnant women. If the immune system is not weakened, streptococci do not pose a danger to humans. However, everyone knows that during pregnancy, a woman's body is susceptible to many infections, including bacterial ones. During the period of bearing a child, some types of pathogens can cause serious harm to the mother and unborn baby. That is why it is very important to start treatment immediately if streptococcus was found in a smear during pregnancy. Treatment can only be prescribed by a qualified specialist. But it’s better not to experiment on your own.

Streptococcus species

First of all, you need to understand which pathogens cause serious harm. The microflora of a woman's vagina can normally contain three types of streptococci:

• serological group D (enterococci);
• serological group B;
• green streptococci.

The body of a future mother can be harmed by group A streptococcus, which appears as a result of bacterial type sepsis, as well as group B bacteria, which can enter the body of a newborn baby. The first group of bacteria is the most dangerous.

Routes of infection

In the urine and smear streptococcus during pregnancy is found most often. The bacteria can be passed on during intimacy without contraception. Besides,infection with pathogens can be the result of non-compliance with banal personal hygiene measures. Wearing underwear made primarily from synthetic fabrics can also cause infection. The bacteria can be passed on through kissing and hugging. It has been scientifically proven that every fifth pregnant woman has streptococci in her body. In some women, the development of bacteria may occur asymptomatically and do not affect the course of life processes in any way.

Growth of streptococci occurs in the cavity of the gastrointestinal tract, nasopharynx and on the mucous membranes of the genital organs.

Group A streptococci during pregnancy

This type of bacteria poses the greatest danger to the he alth of the expectant mother and fetus. Group A streptococci, after contact with the surface of wounds, provoke inflammation of the skin with the formation of abscesses. In the internal environment of the body, pathogenic bacteria behave even more aggressively. The focus of infection is most often located in the nasopharynx, vagina.

Group B streptococci during pregnancy

Bacteria of this group most often accumulate in the cavity of the nasopharynx, gastrointestinal tract and vagina. Group B streptococcus during pregnancy in a smear is diagnosed in every fifth woman. If measures are not taken in a timely manner and the fight against the infection is not started, irreversible consequences may occur, up to spontaneous abortion. Treatment can normalize the amountstreptococci in a smear.

Infection symptoms

The presence of pathogenic bacteria in the body of a future mother can be recognized by a number of symptoms. That is, it will be possible to suspect something was wrong even before streptococcus is detected in a smear during pregnancy.

A woman's body temperature may rise. The thermometer can reach forty degrees. The fair sex feels tired. If the infection affects the nasopharynx, the woman has pain when swallowing, as well as plaque on the tonsils and inflammation of the lymph nodes on the sides of the neck. The expectant mother feels sudden changes in body temperature. The woman is thrown into the heat, then into the cold. The defeat of the nasopharynx with group B streptococci can provoke the occurrence of complications in the form of otitis media, sinusitis, and even pneumonia. Heart rate increases significantly.

If streptococcus has affected the genitourinary system, symptoms can be manifested by acute inflammation of the membranes, as well as infection of the fetus in the womb. After a cesarean section, bacteria can provoke the development of endometritis. The symptoms of the disease are not pronounced. They can easily be confused with signs of a woman's recovery after delivery.

A new mother feels constant weakness and fatigue, discomfort in the lower abdomen.

Diagnostic Methods

The standard procedure involves taking a swab from the vagina. After that, a study of the obtained biological material is carried out under conditionslaboratories. The result can be obtained no earlier than five days later. During this time, it is possible not only to establish the belonging of the bacteria present in the smear to a particular group, but also to determine the resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics.

It is very important to observe several important conditions before taking a sample. It is not recommended to carry out hygiene procedures immediately before taking a smear. Otherwise, you may get a distorted result. Doctors strongly recommend emptying your bladder two to three hours before your procedure.

After taking the material, the laboratory assistant sends a test tube with a smear to the repository, in which the mucus from the vagina is kept for a day. After twenty-four hours have passed, the biomaterial is examined under a microscope for the presence of pathogenic bacteria. Over the next three days, the laboratory assistant observes the growth of microorganisms.

It is also possible to detect streptococci in a smear in women during pregnancy through rapid testing. This method is faster. The whole procedure takes no more than half an hour.

Consequences of streptococcal infection for mom

Group A streptococci found in a smear during pregnancy cause various diseases of the respiratory system, such as tonsillitis, pharyngitis. Pathogenic bacteria can cause endometritis and urinary tract infections. In addition, group A streptococci can cause sepsis in the postpartum period.

Bacteria group B, which is known as streptococcus agalactia, can cause many unpleasantdiseases, including:

• sepsis;
• meningitis;
• endocarditis;
• inflammation of membranes, etc.

In addition, pathogens can cause endometritis soon after delivery, as well as cause spontaneous miscarriage. The above effects are extremely rare. Most often, group B streptococci have practically no effect on the course of pregnancy. As a rule, pathogenic bacteria negatively affect the condition of the child.

Consequences for the baby

Infection of the fetus with group A streptococci provokes the occurrence of various respiratory diseases in the future. Group B bacteria can cause pneumonia in a newborn baby.

Treatment

When detecting staphylococci and streptococci in a pregnancy smear in dangerous quantities, it is very important to start treatment immediately. The study of analyzes allows you to choose antibacterial drugs to which certain bacteria are sensitive. As a result, the doctor receives information about which means are most suitable for a woman to get rid of streptococci.

If the disease occurs in an acute form and is accompanied by a serious condition, the specialist decides on the introduction of drugs intravenously or drip. In all other cases, oral forms of medicines are used.

Antibacterial therapy is prescribed afterthirty-fifth week of pregnancy. Treatment continues during childbirth and for the first time after delivery. A few hours before the birth, the doctor performs a sanitation of the vagina, which will prevent infection of the fetus during childbirth.

As a rule, doctors prefer drugs from the penicillin series. If a woman has an intolerance to such drugs, the specialist prescribes macrolides.

Complication of streptococcal infection after childbirth

Some time after delivery, complications of streptococcal infection may appear, which manifest themselves in the form of inflammation of the uterine cavity. Symptoms begin to appear a few days after the birth of the child. A woman feels discomfort, weakness, deterioration. Bleeding may occur, accompanied by severe pain, purulent discharge and a significant increase in body temperature. The heart rate increases. In such cases, the woman needs immediate hospitalization and close supervision of medical personnel.

Disease prevention

Some precautions can have a protective effect on the body of a pregnant woman and prevent the growth of the number of streptococci. During pregnancy, special attention should be paid to intimate hygiene, since during this period the amount of vaginal discharge increases. And this, in turn, significantly increases the risk of reproduction of pathogenic bacteria.

In addition, in order not to exceed the norm of streptococcus in a smear, it is necessary during pregnancygive preference to underwear made mainly from natural fabrics. It is best to choose cotton products with a minimum amount of synthetic additives. In addition, it is very important to choose the right size of underwear. Too tight products will also contribute to discomfort in the genital area and, as a result, the growth of pathogenic bacteria.

During intimacy during pregnancy, it is best to use contraceptives. To strengthen the immune system during the period of gestation, doctors strongly recommend taking various multivitamin complexes. Means of this type will help not only protect the body of the expectant mother from the effects of various viruses and pathogenic bacteria, but also improve the overall well-being of the woman.

Conclusion

Streptococcus is present in the body of all people. The content of microorganisms, which does not exceed the permissible norm, does not affect the human condition in any way. The negative consequences of the action of streptococci occur only in the event of a weakening of the immune system, as a result of which there is a significant increase in pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, streptococci are most often found in a smear in women during pregnancy.

This type of microorganisms most often does not affect the condition of the expectant mother. However, the growth of streptococci puts the unborn baby at significant risk. Infection of the fetus with bacteria can lead to future respiratory problems and increase the risk of pneumonia.

The most accurate diagnostic methodis taking a smear from the vagina. The analysis is carried out within five days. With a significant excess of the norm of streptococci in a smear, treatment should be started immediately. Antibiotics are used as therapy. In especially severe cases, intravenous administration of drugs is required. But in most cases, oral administration is sufficient. Therapy continues during childbirth and ends a week or two after delivery, after the woman's condition improves and the number of bacteria returns to normal.