GBS: A Threat to Newborns

According to a recent study, one in four women carries the bacterium Group B Streptococcus without knowing it.

Group B Strep (GBS) has proven to the most common cause of life-threatening infections in infants and the infections can quite often lead to cerebral palsy, blindness, and even death.

Testing Done for GBS

A test can determine whether a pregnant woman carries GBS and an effective antibiotic can be given to those affected to prevent complications from occurring during delivery.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every 100 to 200 babies whose mothers carry GBS will most likely become infected.

“It can kill and maim, and 90 percent of it is preventable,” explains Dr. James A. McGregor, a professor at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles.

Doctors Urge Expecting Mother's to Take Test

Doctors have more recently began urging expecting mothers to get tested and ensure that they take the necessary steps needed in order to protect their baby.

Guidelines have also been set for women getting tested explaining that they should also be given antibiotics for at least four hours before they go into labor.

“We can't make the germ completely go away, but we can get the number lower, enough so that the baby won't get a life threatening infection,” explains Dr. Carol Baker, a professor at Baylor University College of Medicine.

Reports claim that a staggering 5 percent of babies infected by GBS die and for those who survive, many develop meningitis and suffer from neurological damage.

(Source: Forbes)

Do you have a child who has been harmed by GBS? If so, please contact us today to speak with an experienced attorney who will enable you to take legal action.