Streptococcus, also known as a type of strep, is not associated with the kind of strep throat you may be thinking of.

Group B strep, commonly known as GBS is a normal bacterium carried in the intestines or lower genital tract. Although GBS is harmless in adults, it can be serious even life-threatening for newborns, says Gynecologist Richard Bloy. "Its not affecting us because it lives in our body naturally but in some newborns they can get a terrible infection called septicemia and it can be fatal."

Most adults carry the bacteria in healthy adults with no symptoms. In fact GBS in healthy adults isn't treated. The exception is pregnant women because the bacteria can spread to the baby during childbirth. "So if you had GBS positive today and we gave you antibiotics today and you delivered this evening you would be perfectly fine, 3 days from now GBS is back, its your normal flora, but the baby is done, delivered, and there was no GBS there when the baby was born," explains Dr. Bloy.

Most babies born to women with strep B are born healthy, but it's the few who become infected that can become critically ill, especially premature babies. But now with the advantages of new DNA testing, getting information back will be much quicker. "DNA testing is here we have it, it's just a matter of equipping the labs and the staff to do it and we're ready to go," admits Dr. Bloy.

If you test positive for GBS be sure to alert the healthcare team so they can provide the best possible care during labor and delivery. The possibility of GBS is scary-but remember the condition is rare. And when treated properly the baby has only a one in four thousand chance of developing GBS.