What is group b strep in newborns?

Group B streptococcal (group B strep) infection is a serious bacterial infection. Newborns may develop the infection hours after birth or during the first week of life. They can also get it several months later.

Newborns with group B strep may have low energy, a raised breathing rate, and a hard time feeding. Babies who are infected with group B strep need medical care right away. This is because the infection can be deadly. They will be given medicines to treat the infection. They may also get fluids and breathing support from a machine.

Symptoms of group B strep may include high or low body temperature, irritability, low energy, raised breathing rate, and trouble feeding. Newborns also may get infections of the blood (sepsis), lung (pneumonia), or tissues around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). Newborns infected with group B strep need medical care right away.

Your baby will be treated in the hospital. Antibiotics are given to stop the infection. The medicine may be given through an intravenous (I.V.) needle into a vein.

If your baby has trouble breathing, the doctor may use a ventilator. This machine helps your baby breathe. To do this, the doctor puts a soft tube through your baby's mouth into the windpipe.

The hospital staff will give your baby the nutrition your baby needs. The doctor may feed your baby through a soft tube that goes through the nose and into the stomach. Or the doctor may use an I.V. that goes through the belly button to do this.

The doctor will test your baby's blood or urine or both for group B strep bacteria. Your baby may get a chest X-ray. If your baby shows signs of a serious infection, the doctor may test the spinal fluid.

If your newborn is at risk for getting group B strep, watch them for possible signs of infection. These could include irritability, low energy, trouble feeding, and a hard time breathing. Newborns thought to be infected with group B strep need medical care right away because the infection can be deadly.

The infection is sometimes caused by the mother passing the bacteria to the newborn. The bacteria can also come from another source. Sources for late-onset infection can be hard to figure out and are often unknown. Babies who are born early (before 37 weeks) are more likely than full-term babies to get group B strep.

Group B streptococcus (strep) is a serious bacterial infection. Newborns may have the infection hours after delivery. Or it can develop during the first few weeks after birth. When an infant is diagnosed with group B strep right after birth, the infant will stay in the hospital for treatment. This care sheet is for parents who have taken their baby home. It will help caregivers recognize symptoms of the infection if it develops later. This is known as late onset group B strep.

This type of strep is not the same as the type that causes strep throat.

If your baby has group B strep, your baby will need to be treated in a hospital. Your baby may need special care, such as being in the intensive care unit (ICU) in the hospital. This may be scary for you. But the hospital staff understands this. They will explain what happens and will answer your questions.

Newborns infected with group B strep may get a blood infection (sepsis) or lung infection (pneumonia). Or they may get an infection of the fluid or tissues that surround the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). If you think your baby has group B strep, get medical care right away.