Antibiotic resistant GBS Anyone?? I can't be the only one dealing with this!!!!!

[pinkpassion]

Posted this in gestational complications but cross posting for possible more ideas or stories?

So with dd1 I was group B strep. I had a crappy OB, I had no idea of anything about it. She did two sweeps on me which is a big no no..

Fast forward I've been with a new OB for before this pregnancy. It was found in a routine urine culture at 8 weeks that Group B strep cultured High over 10,000 (whatever units they measure in). So I was started on Antibiotics. Didn't think anything of it really except that my dr explained when it's found in your urine you are considered high colonized and with levels that high it puts you at a higher risk for complications (kidney infections, preterm labor and even stillbirth). Well, once again at 16 weeks my urine again cultured high over 10,000. I was put on a different antibiotic every 6 hours for 10 days. Thought that was all good and well except that when it came time to recheck it I started having issues with contractions and such so they checked it again and it's even higher now, over 15,000. So my dr sent off a test for sensitivity to see exactly what antibiotic will take care of this group b strep strain. We are still waiting on 2 more antibiotics, but so far it's come back as resistant to the rest. And she said with no safe oral antibiotic options I'll have to be hospitalized for IV antibiotics to get this gone. Especially with the risks to baby increased!

So I'm waiting on them to call and tell me what those last two come back as and if I'll have to go to the hospital and how long it will be for. I'm not sure how long a course of IV antibiotics is for, is it the same as oral 7-10 days?! ugh, that seems daunting...

Anyway.. Anyone else dealing with this??

She's also agreed it's best for me to start some natural therapies as well, so I've recently started:
cranberry pills
garlic oil pills
Apple cider vinegar
and sits baths with very diluted apple cider vinegar!

I've tried googling and can't find a single thing about anyone else going through this!!! I'm feeling so alone and a little worried!! I know a girl who lost her 28 weeker to chorio infection from group B strep so it just hits a little too close to home!!!

 

[marmoset]

I don't know anything about this, but wanted to say good luck and hang in there, I'm glad you've got a good OB who's looking after you and I'm sure you can handle anything that comes your way. Sending you good vibes!

 

[pinkpassion]

Thanks marmoset.. Doesn't seem to be too many that know anything about it..

I've been getting the " Oh group B strep is no big deal" from many women

and the occasional "group B strep took my friend's baby" so I don't know.. I know my dr said the high colonized women are the ones at more risk of complications, but it's annoying not having any information on it!!

 

[laila 44]

Shit wow. Never heard of anything like this. I know it can be present normally and can be left untreated unless it poses symptoms but in pregnancy it's a different issue. Just wanted to wish u luck. Don't worry, there's definitely an antibiotic out there that will eradicate it for good. Maybe see a naturopath to avoid it coming back. I think Iv antibiotics may be for a week or 2 depending on how u respond. Don't think you will have to stay though it will probably be for a few hours a day as an outpatient. Keep us posted xx

 

[pinkpassion]

Yes I'm definitely going to stay on the natural stuff too, especially once this is all over. I wish I'd had started it sooner! And will definitely do it in the future before ttc again when we are ready for #3. It's all just a pain and a bit overwhelming! Definitely not something I want to mess around with!

 

[Sandyy]

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[crystal8]

I also tested positive for GBS early on. It came back as a UTI but caused by GBS rather than e.coli which is more normal. Fortunately the UTI resolved with penicillin. It is uncommon for GBS to be resistant to antibiotics. I was also told that once you are colonized it will always come back. I am tested every 2 weeks because a loss last year at 17 weeks, premature birth, with an unknown cause but was told most likely infection. Whether it was bacterial or viral is still being debated among my specialists. But they won't give continuous antibiotics because of the risk of resistance.

The more antibiotics they give you the more likely the bacteria are to become resistant. So I was told only active infections would be treated. I always get background bacteria in my tests every couple weeks. So likely the IV antibiotics will just gain you some more time as the bacteria tend to just keep coming back. I am part of a high risk pregnancy program downtown and they seemed relatively unconcerned with the GBS, but then my high risk OB has been monitoring me closely. I think there is quite a bit of disagreement about this.

They think the biggest risk is during delivery which is why you'll get IV antibiotics at that point. However, I have read studies that potentially link it to preterm birth etc. So it is good that they are monitoring you carefully. I think it is a balance between under and over treating.

 

[pinkpassion]

I know being colonized with gbs in itself is not an issue. As 40% of women are. I guess the biggest issue is the constant UTI and contractions ect.

I also know it's controversial between dr's about treatment and my dr doesn't just treat any pregnant woman with GBS just the ones that have GBS bacteriuria and then treat GBS at labor.

She said the biggest issue with being resistant is that we at least will know after running the sensitivities the best way to treat when labor starts because otherwise my baby will be unprotected.

There's also a lot of controversy over prenatal gbs infection and stillbirth. But I don't want to take the chance of something like that either. Pregnancy has never been easy for me and I've already had too many losses. I'm not comfortable taking a chance of her being born prematurely or getting an infection (especially already knowing someone it's happened to).

I guess I was just wondering if other women were dealing with the same thing!

 

[Marumi]

I am dealing with antibiotic resistant bacteria regarding the kidney and uti infections. Have been taking grapefruitseedextract (20 drops 3 times a day) and D Mannose (1 teaspoon every 4-5 hrs) and it keeps it away when taken regularily. One resistant bacteria that can usually not be treated in pregnancy, because there are no safe antibiotics, went away with this.
Some people also have good results with colloidal silver.
D Mannose is only effective for UTIs I believe but may be worth checking on...I'm not 100% sure.

 

[pinkpassion]

Marumi, isn't D mannose the active sugar? in crandberries?? I thought that's what that was I'll have to google.I could be totally off..

I have read good things about the natural remedies taking care of group B strep in women seeing midwives, but again you have to be careful what you read on the internet!!

 

[Marumi]

Marumi, isn't D mannose the active sugar? in crandberries?? I thought that's what that was I'll have to google.I could be totally off..

I have read good things about the natural remedies taking care of group B strep in women seeing midwives, but again you have to be careful what you read on the internet!!

D Mannose only seems to take care of bladder infections. I just thought of it since you mentioned cranberry. GSE and Colloidal silver have both been used as natural antibiotics and proven effective for so many problems.

Regarding internet information - I think most people will be pretty careful with it anyhow...I mean I can not imagine anyone latching on to the first random opinion on a blog that they see . If you come across something, you usually research further and compare sources.
I personally never had a bad experience with internet research and cured all my health issues thanks to it. None with the help of doctors (sadly).
What helps me is comparing how well a remedy worked for people, what natural health care professionals say about it and looking at studies or trials if available. I also research the downsides and negative experiences. Some pages I take with a grain of salt...not all blogs are well researched and written and some gov. sites can be pharma influenced or biased.
Self testing is needed of course too, so be sure all remedies are safe but the vast majority of the time a remedy worked just as well as expected