Group B Strep Infection Symptoms, Signs, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment by MedicineNet.com

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Group B Strep Infection

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Medical Author:

Steven Doerr, MD

Steven Doerr, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Doerr received his undergraduate degree in Spanish from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He graduated with his Medical Degree from the University Of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado in 1998 and completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine from Denver Health Medical Center in Denver, Colorado in 2002, where he also served as Chief Resident.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Group B strep facts

Group B strep are bacteria found normally in the intestine, vagina, and rectal area in 15%-45% of all healthy women.

Group B strep infections can affect neonates and adults.

Most pregnant women who are colonized by the bacteria have no symptoms.

The infection is spread to infants before or during delivery.

Signs and symptoms in babies may include fever, breathing problems, lethargy, and poor feeding.

Diagnosis of GBS infection is made by isolating the organism from body fluids.

The treatment for GBS infection is antibiotics.

Complications of GBS infection include sepsis, pneumonia, meningitis, or occasionally death.

In pregnant women, routine screening for colonization with GBS is recommended.

What is group B strep?

Group B strep (GBS) is a gram-positive streptococcal bacteria also known as Streptococcus agalactiae. This type of bacteria (not to be confused with group A strep which causes "strep throat") is commonly found in the human body, and it usually does not cause any symptoms. However, in certain cases, it can be a dangerous cause of various infections that can affect nonpregnant adults, pregnant women, and their newborn infants. Group B strep infection is the most common cause of sepsis and meningitis in the United States during a newborn's first week of life.

Group B strep infection can also afflict adults with certain chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Although the incidence of neonatal group B strep infection has been decreasing, the incidence of group B strep infection in nonpregnant adults appears to be increasing.

Next: What causes group B strep infection?

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