Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a type of bacterium that causes illness in newborn babies, pregnant women, the elderly, and adults with other illnesses such as diabetes or liver disease. GBS is the most common cause of life-threatening infections in newborns.

In the News

• Maternal-child spread of group B streptococcal disease, a leading cause of mortality and morbidity among newborns, can be prevented by administration of antibiotics during childbirth to women at risk of transmitting the bacteria to their infants. During the 1990s efforts to prevent neonatal group B streptococcal disease increased. Coinciding with these efforts, from 1993-1998 the incidence of group B streptococcal disease during the first week of life declined by 65% to an incidence of 0.6 cases/1000 live births. Additionally, the excess incidence of newborn disease among black infants as compared with white infants decreased by 75%. We estimate that in 1998 3900 neonatal GBS infections and 200 neonatal deaths were prevented. View the New England Journal of Medicine Reference here.

• Notice to Readers: Update: Penicillin G Availability

enter for Infectious Diseases
Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases