• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Group B streptococcal septicemia of the newborn

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Definition:

Group B streptococcal septicemia is a severe bacterial infection that affects newborn infants .

Alternative Names:

Streptococcus agalactiae ; Sepsis of the newborn; Lancefield group B streptococcus; Group B streptococcus

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Group B streptococcal septicemia is caused by Streptococcus agalactiae , a type of group B streptococcus bacteria, which is commonly found in the human gastrointestinal, reproductive, and urinary tracts.

The disease may be seen from birth to 6 days of life (generally in the first 24 hours) or in children age 7 days to 3 months. Most cases occur in babies around 1 month old.

Group B streptococcus was once responsible for about 75% of sepsis infections in infants. However, the rate of this condition has dropped since methods to screen and treat pregnant women at risk were established.

The following increase the risk for group B streptococcal septicemia:

• Mother has a fever during labor
• Mother has group B streptococcus in her gastrointestinal, reproductive, or urinary tracts
• Rupture of membranes ("water breaks") more than 18 hours before baby is delivered
• Prematurity

Group B streptococcus may infect the fetus by traveling from the mother's bloodstream through the placenta or through ruptured membranes as the infant passes through the birth canal. The infant may also become infected after delivery.

• Review Date: 8/18/2006
• Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.