Nursery World - GBS risk remains largely unknown

It seems extraordinary that a life-threatening bacterial infection that has the same prevalence in newborn babies as spina bifida and Down's syndrome is largely unknown to parents. Most pregnant women have never heard of group B streptococcus (GBS), and yet its effects are largely preventable, according to the West Sussex-based Group B Strep Support charity and its medical supporters. Jane Plumb, the charity's chairman, whose second baby died 17 hours after his birth in 1996 because of GBS, said, 'Tragically, this is still happening to others - when research has shown how most of these infections can be prevented.'

Jane Plumb, the charity's chairman, whose second baby died 17 hours after his birth in 1996 because of GBS, said, 'Tragically, this is still happening to others - when research has shown how most of these infections can be prevented.'

Although GBS is relatively rare, it is the most common cause of bacterial infection in newborn babies in the UK. Around one in every 1,000 newborn babies develops the infection - about 700 babies a year. Intensive intravenous antibiotic therapy successfully treats most babies, but even with the best medical care, about 100 babies a year die.

And yet, GBS can be prevented when women at a high risk of carrying and passing on the infection take antibiotics intravenously during labour.

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