Group B step is common to have, but rare to cause a problem in babies, but when it does cause a problem it is very deadly. It can cause a very serious infection usually apparent within the first week of life.
If you are positive, the treatment here is to give minimum 2 doses of IV antibiotics to mom when in labor. You get the antibiotics every 4 hours until you deliver, so if a long labor you may have more than 2 doses. If you have a short labor and only have time for 1 dose or no doses, then the baby has to stay in the hosptial for I think 48 hours so they can take monitor the temp of the baby. If no problems you then go home, If problems then of course they treat the baby with antibiotics. In Canada it is a routine test. The doctor takes a swab of the vagina and anal area. It is painless and take 1 second. It is done very late in pregnancy, close to when you deliver because you can go from being a carrier to not being a carrier. Once a carrier, NOT always a carrier. In canada the test is offered to all women who are pregnant even if they were already positive in a past pregnancy, because this time they might not be. I was negative with my first and positive with my second. I only had time to have 1 dose , so we stayed 2 nights in hospital instead of the one night. I was only hooked up to the IV when the medication was actually going in, then they would lock the IV the rest of the time so I could still move around freely without dragging a pole along.