Health Beat: Protect your newborn or unborn baby from infections

Group B strep

About a quarter of all women carry bacteria that causes group B strep infection. Group B strep bacteria are usually not harmful to you and won't make the people around you sick. But these bacteria can be very dangerous for your newborn. Babies can get very sick and even die if their mothers pass group B strep bacteria to them during childbirth.

If you are pregnant and test positive for group B strep, doctors can give you an antibiotic (usually penicillin) during labor that prevents the bacteria from spreading to your baby. If you think you might go into labor early, talk with a health care provider as soon as possible.

Remember:

* Ask your health care provider for a group B strep test when you are 35--37 weeks pregnant.

* If the test shows that you carry the bacteria, talk with a health care provider. Be sure to tell them if you are allergic to penicillin or other antibiotics.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

A pregnant woman infected with CMV can pass the virus to her baby during pregnancy. Most babies born with CMV infection will be fine and will not have symptoms or develop health problems. However, some babies will have permanent problems, such as hearing or vision loss or mental disabilities, at birth, or develop problems later on.

CMV is passed from infected people to others through body fluids, such as saliva, urine, blood, vaginal secretions and semen. However, it does not spread easily. Infants and young children are more likely to shed CMV in their saliva and urine. For pregnant women, the two most common ways they are exposed to CMV is through sexual activity and contact with saliva and urine of children with CMV infection.

If you're pregnant or planning a pregnancy, the best way to protect your baby from CMV is to protect yourself.

* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after changing a child's diapers, feeding, wiping their nose or mouth, and touching their toys, pacifier or other objects.

* Don't share food, drinks, eating utensils or a toothbrush with a child.

* Do not put a child's pacifier in your mouth.

* Use soap and water or a disinfectant to clean toys, countertops and other surfaces that may have a child's saliva or urine on them.

* Avoid contact with a child's saliva when kissing or snuggling.

Listeriosis and pregnancy

Listeriosis is a rare but serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria called Listeria. Listeriosis mostly affects pregnant women, newborns, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Pregnant women are about 13 times more likely than the general population to get listeriosis. About 1 in 6 of patients who are diagnosed with listeriosis are pregnant women.

Infected pregnant women may experience fever and other nonspecific symptoms, such as fatigue and aches. The disease can also be very serious for unborn babies or newborns. Listeriosis during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or infection in newborns.

In general, you can protect yourself from listeriosis by avoiding:

* hot dogs and delicatessen meats unless they have been heated or reheated until steaming hot,

* soft cheeses unless they are made from pasteurized milk,

* raw or undercooked fish or seafood, such as sushi or sashimi,

* raw (unpasteurized) milk,

* refrigerated pates and meat spreads, and

* refrigerated smoked seafood, unless it has been heated until steaming hot.

Pregnant women and others who are especially susceptible to the disease should take extra precautions not to get fluid from delicatessen meat or hot dog packages on other foods or food preparation surfaces. Additionally, pregnant women should thoroughly wash their hands after handling delicatessen meats and hot dogs. Learn about additional ways to reduce your risk for listeriosis.

If you are pregnant and develop fever and other nonspecific symptoms, such as fatigue and aches, talk to your health care provider within 24 hours. If you are infected, your health care provider can give you antibiotics that can protect your unborn baby or newborn. If a person has eaten food contaminated with Listeria and does not have any symptoms, most experts believe that no tests or treatment are needed, even for persons at higher risk for listeriosis.