Pregnancy and Maternal Health Care
It is mandatory to test the group B streptococcus in pregnant
Author: Ann Brown
In Argentina, the Senate became law on project that requires pregnant women traveling the last weeks of gestation, to be held screened for group B streptococcus The bacterium can cause premature labor and transmit serious diseases to the newborn, such as meningitis.
However, despite the importance of analysis, nothing has been said about that is included in the Mandatory Health Program (PMO), pre-paid social work, so its free of charge would not be guaranteed. The survey is done between weeks 35 and 37 of gestation, according to reports, has cost about 25 pesos. Article 3 of the standard refers to bacteriological examination and prophylaxis should be included in the routine, but makes no mention of who will bear the costs of analysis or further processing, if necessary.
B streptococcus bacteria, can be found in the digestive, urinary and genital tracts of adults, and although it causes no problems prior to pregnancy can cause serious illness in the mother and fetus during pregnancy, or even after birth to a newborn. The analysis consists of a swab in the rectal or vaginal area of women for the presence of the bacteria.
According to surveys, one in five pregnant women have GBS in the rectum or vagina, which can cause a serious infection of the placental membranes called chorioamnionitis, postpartum infection and even premature birth. The bacterium is, along with pneumonia and meningitis, one of the most common factors that endanger the lives of newborn babies.
Posted in