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Group B streptococcal septicemia of the newborn - Symptom

Alternative Names

Group B strep; GBS

Symptoms:

Anxious or stressed appearance
Blue appearance (cyanosis)
Breathing difficulties such as:
- Grunting noises
- Flaring of the nostrils
- Rapid breathing
- Short periods without breathing
Irregular heart rate - may be fast or extremely slow
Lethargy
Pale appearance (pallor) with cold skin
Poor feeding
Unstable body temperature (low or high)

Signs and tests:

To diagnose GBS septicemia, GBS bacteria must be found in a sample of blood (blood culture) taken from a sick newborn.

Other tests that may be done include:

Blood clotting tests - prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
Blood gases (to see if the baby needs help with breathing)
Complete blood count
CSF culture (to check for meningitis)
Urine culture
X-ray of the chest

Reviewed last on: 12/10/2009
Kimberly G. Lee, MD, MSc, IBCLC, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. Review Provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Schrag S, Gorwitz R, Fultz-Butts K, Schuchat A. Prevention of perinatal group B streptococcal disease. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 51(RR-11): 1–22, 2002.

American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases. Group B streptococcal infections, in Section 3:Summaries of infectious diseases. Red Book 2009.

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