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Calls for Strep B tests for pregnant women | Calls for Strep B tests for pregnant women |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A woman who lost her unborn baby as a result of the Strep B infection has called for routine testing to detect the presence of the bacteria. | A woman who lost her unborn baby as a result of the Strep B infection has called for routine testing to detect the presence of the bacteria. |
Group B streptococcus is a bacteria that can be passed between the mother and child during a natural birth. | Group B streptococcus is a bacteria that can be passed between the mother and child during a natural birth. |
It is the most common cause of blood infections and meningitis in newborns and often causes the death of the baby. | It is the most common cause of blood infections and meningitis in newborns and often causes the death of the baby. |
Gillian Boyd said her pregnancy had been perfectly normal up until her baby was stillborn at full-term. | Gillian Boyd said her pregnancy had been perfectly normal up until her baby was stillborn at full-term. |
She said when midwives told her they could not detect her baby's heart-beat "my world was falling apart, but I still didn't want to believe them. | She said when midwives told her they could not detect her baby's heart-beat "my world was falling apart, but I still didn't want to believe them. |
"After an actual scan a doctor then confirmed there was no heart-beat and that Erin had already died. | "After an actual scan a doctor then confirmed there was no heart-beat and that Erin had already died. |
"After that they gave me some gas and air and I knew at that stage that I had to deliver a baby who wasn't going to cry." | "After that they gave me some gas and air and I knew at that stage that I had to deliver a baby who wasn't going to cry." |
It was only after a post mortem examination that she found out her baby had died due an infection caused by Group B streptococcus. | It was only after a post mortem examination that she found out her baby had died due an infection caused by Group B streptococcus. |
"I know that if this bacteria is detected in a pregnant woman, that it can be easily prevented," Gillian said. | "I know that if this bacteria is detected in a pregnant woman, that it can be easily prevented," Gillian said. |
"They could prevent more if a test was done." | "They could prevent more if a test was done." |
Health Minister Edwin Poots said it was understandable that people were calling for screening after such tragedies. | Health Minister Edwin Poots said it was understandable that people were calling for screening after such tragedies. |
"However, the UK National Screening Committee, the expert body which advises the four UK health departments on screening programmes, has kept under review the evidence for screening for Group B Streptococcal (GBS) infection, and following the most recent review in 2009 the NSC reaffirmed its advice that screening for GBS should not be offered. | "However, the UK National Screening Committee, the expert body which advises the four UK health departments on screening programmes, has kept under review the evidence for screening for Group B Streptococcal (GBS) infection, and following the most recent review in 2009 the NSC reaffirmed its advice that screening for GBS should not be offered. |
"I will continue to keep this situation under close review." | "I will continue to keep this situation under close review." |
Anne Mackie, director of programmes at the UK National Screening Committee, said the efficacy of introducing a screening programme for Group B Streptococcus had not been proven. | |
"The UK NSC found that the current recommended test for GBS carriage cannot reliably identify those women who would have an affected baby," she said. | |
"This could result in a large number of women unnecessarily receiving intravenous antibiotics during labour, and there are potential risks associated with this." | |
South Belfast MP Dr Alasdair McDonnell said testing would be expensive, but worthwhile for families affected. | South Belfast MP Dr Alasdair McDonnell said testing would be expensive, but worthwhile for families affected. |
"It's one of these balancing acts that we've got into in the health service," he said. | "It's one of these balancing acts that we've got into in the health service," he said. |
"It makes perfect sense to test, but you're in a situation where there's something like 75 babies a year are affected yet it would cost probably something in the region of millions of pounds to do the test. | "It makes perfect sense to test, but you're in a situation where there's something like 75 babies a year are affected yet it would cost probably something in the region of millions of pounds to do the test. |
"But for the families involved it would be a very sensible and worthwhile investment. I happen to personally feel that women should be tested." | "But for the families involved it would be a very sensible and worthwhile investment. I happen to personally feel that women should be tested." |
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