Strep D

Waffle - Who is your doctor?


Yes, had a friend diagnosed here with Strep D too; she asked around and NO ONE else had heard of it...not midwives here in HK, not midwives in the States and Canada, not other preggers. Anyway, she had her baby and all went well; the antibiotics are what you need, beforehand, and as a safeguard during pregnancy as well. Strep D is not as serious as Strep B, with no yet known link to the things Strep B is linked to. Nonetheless, take the anti's. And absolutely do NOT opt for a c-section because of this!!! No need.


As for the Strep B test, it should definitely be routine...it's important to detect it...and it's usually done in week 36 or 37. Waffle, I'm thinking you were tested for Strep B and that's when the Strep D was found, yes? In other words, there wasn't a special test for Strep D right?

It's a scam. Group B strep is certainly a potential pathogen. Group B strep is found in a significant number of women who are "carriers". It causes problems in only a small percentage of infants, especially premature infants. There is early onset which causes rapid progression of disease in the first week of life and "late onset" which causes a slower but still serious infection. Penicillin ALWAYS cure it.


Group D strep is none of the above. It is rare that group D strep is ever a pathogen except for the elderly and other immunocompromise individuals. Besides EVERYONE is a carrier of it; so if you treat someone who "tested positive for it", you will treat EVERY PREGNANT WOMAN. Do not take antibiotics for it. It is one of the prime "superbugs" that is developing resistance to all antibiotics and inappropriate use of antibiotics to "treat" this will hasten the downfall on mankind.


The doctors who treat this are "ambulance chasers". It's just the newest scam now that the other scam namely "molds" is winding down. But that will take us to another topic.

Yes I am an MD. As a matter of fact, it happens to fall into my specialty. But you don't need to be a specialist to know that this is bogus.


Another name for group D strep is "enterococcus". It is call enterococcus because it is found in the intestitines (entero means intestines). Even the lay person know that feces have alot of bacterian in it...like enterococcus. So Everyone male, female, childern ALL have enterococcus in their bodies. The vaginal canal being anatomically where it is is colonize by the same bacteria as the intestines. EVERYONE will test positive for enterococcus. If they test negative, it just means that they did a lousy job of swabbing it.


As said before group B strep is real. I guess I would give him/her the benefit of the doubt and maybe he/she meant Group B instead of group D strep.


Doctors who "treat" enterococcus gives us a bad name. It is pretty disgusting to me. I do not recommend that you stay with this "doctor". Either he/she is stupid,dishonest or both. God forbid, if things go bad in your pregancy or delivery I doubt that he/she can adequately address it.

Mosy.

You are right on both counts. Your friend's baby probably had a Group B strep infection and it must be be treated. Yes, the test for Group B strep towards the end of the pregnancy is very important.


As for you being "treated", that's more complicated. If you have the bacteria on you and you are not "infected" that is call colonization. A colonized person is known as a carrier. It is very hard to get rid of the carrier state sometimes. Surfice to say, colonization is not a problem and one should not go crazy trying to get rid of a colonized state. But obviously if you will need to be tested before EVERY pregnancy to check your colonization status.

Like alot of scams, people take a real danger such as group B strep and try to sell you something that sounds similar but NOT an issue such as Group D strep.

Sorry, missed a part of your question. You should NOT assume you are treated. There is a protocol to be followed for pregnant women who are postive for group B strep. If your doctor tested and treated you for group B strep, it sounds like he/she has access to the protocal in your area (they are all very similar with mild variations) and should follow it. It usually involves treated them mother with Ampicillin immediately prior to delivery and sometimes doing additional testing on the baby after the birth. Your specific situation will not be know until the time around delivery. As long as your doctor has or knows the protocol, you are pretty protected. Of course nothing is 100 percent.

Scutdog


I have a question for you. My sister-in-law had a baby 5 days ago. They have told her that the placenta tested positive for strep D on the inside and outside. Is this very common? Is it very dangerous? They are waiting on results of a blood test on the baby. They are told, if it comes back positive, the baby will have to be put on IV antibiotics.