Group B Streptococcal Infections in Newborns What is group B
streptococcal infection? Group B streptococcal (group B strep)
infection is a serious bacterial infection that is a leading
cause of death and disability in newborns. In the 1970s, about
half of newborns with group B strep infection died. Today, due
to early recognition and aggressive treatment of the infection,
far fewer cases end in death. What causes group B streptococcal
infection? Group B strep bacteria normally exist in the
intestine, vagina, or rectum. A pregnant woman can transmit the
bacteria to her baby during delivery. Some women are carriers of
group B streptococcal bacteria, which means that they carry the
bacteria but have no illness from it. It is unclear why some
babies get group B strep infection and others do not. Newborns
may develop the infection hours after birth or during the first
week of life, or it may happen several months later. Newborns
who develop group B strep within the first week are most always
infected by their moth