Group B Strep Disease

Introduction

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease is the disease caused by streptococcus bacteria. It occurs when the bacteria invade organs, tissues or bloodstreams. It can cause serious illness in newborns and adults with few chronic medical conditions.

Epidemiology

Generally the baby with early onset has the symptom like Fever, Difficulty feeding, Lethargy and baby with Late onset have the symptom like Difficulty breathing, Fever, Lethargy and Irritability. In case of baby, the treatment is taking intravenous (IV) antibiotics to destroy the bacteria and for adults Antibiotics are effective treatment.

Statistics

About 25% of pregnant women carry group B strep in the rectum or vagina. The rate of serious group B strep disease increases with age; average age of cases in non-pregnant adults is about 60 years old. Population-based retrospective surveillance in Canada during 1982 and 1983 identified 1 of 106 (0.9%) infants with a second episode of invasive GBS disease.