Group B streptococcus, or GBS, is the most common cause of life threatening infections in newborns.
Edward Bell, M.D., director of the Division of Neonatology with University of Iowa Children's Hospital at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics says GBS is one type in the streptococcus family of bacteria. "Group A streptococcus causes strep throat. Group B streptococcus commonly inhabits the male and female genital tract (male urethra, female vagina and uterus)," he says. "GBS can cause illness in adults, but its most serious consequence is infection of the newborn infant. It can cause blood infection, meningitis, and pneumonia in babies, and roughly 1 in 20 infected babies will die."
About one in 10 babies born to mothers carrying GBS will also become colonized with GBS, but only one in 10 colonized babies (one in 100 babies born to GBS carriers) becomes ill from the bacteria. The baby typically swallows or inhales the bacteria during labor or birth.
"Premature babies are especially likely to become ill if their mothers carry GBS," says Bell.
GBS infection in the baby is diagnosed by collecting samples of blood, spinal fluid, and other body fluids to see if the fluids contain GBS. GBS is treated with penicillin or related antibiotics.
"GBS disease in the baby of a GBS carrier can usually be prevented by giving the mother penicillin or another antibiotics when her labor starts," says Bell. "This has been found to be the best approach for protecting babies. Treating the mothers before or earlier during pregnancy has not been very successful.
"There is not yet a safe and effective vaccine against GBS, but research is being done here at the University of Iowa by Stephen Hunter, M.D., and at other medical centers to develop a safe and effective vaccine," Bell says.
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For more information:
University of Iowa Children's Hospital
Edward Bell, M.D.
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