Infectious Disease Control UnitMail Code: 1960 PO BOX 149347 - Austin, TX 78714-93471100 West 49th Street, Suite T801Austin, TX 78714
Phone: 512 776 7676 Fax: (512) 776-7616
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Group B Streptococcal (GBS) Disease, invasive Organism Group B Streptococcal (GBS) disease is caused by Streptococcus agalactiae or group B Streptococcus bacteria. Transmission These bacteria can be present in areas of the body such as mucous membranes (for example, in the throat or vagina) and skin. A streptococcal infection is considered to be invasive when the bacteria have entered a part of the body that is normally not exposed to bacteria; such as blood, bone, or spinal fluid. For infected infants, the mother may pass the bacteria to the baby or the bacteria may come from another source. The source of infection for adults is unknown. Since group B strep is a common organism in the gastrointestinal tract of men and women, this may be a source of some adult infections. Symptoms According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), GBS is the most common cause of sepsis (blood infection) and meningitis (infection of the fluid and lining around the brain) in newborns. GBS disease can occur in the first week of life ("early-onset disease") or one week to several months after birth ("late-onset disease"). The symptoms of group B strep disease can seem like other health problems in newborns and infants. Most newborns with early-onset disease have symptoms on the day of birth. Babies who develop late-onset disease may appear healthy at birth and develop symptoms of group B strep disease after the first week of life. Some symptoms that might be seen in an infant with GBS are fever, difficulty feeding, irritability, lethargy (limpness or hard to wake up the baby), difficulty breathing, and a blue-ish color to the skin. Some babies have complications from illness that include deafness, developmental disabilities, or death. In adults, GBS disease is more common among older adults who have serious medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, kidney, liver, or chronic heart disease. The most common problems caused by group B strep in adults are bloodstream infections, pneumonia (infection in the lungs), skin and soft-tissue infections, and bone and joint infections. Rarely in adults, group B strep can cause meningitis (infection of the fluid and lining surrounding the brain). Serious group B strep infections in adults can be fatal. Prevention Infants For women who are pregnant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a GBS screening between weeks 35 and 37 of pregnancy. To prevent GBS from spreading from a pregnant woman to her baby during labor, a mother can take an antibiotic when labor begins. Antibiotic treatment during labor is also recommended if the mother: Has a urinary tract infection Delivered a previous baby with GBS disease Develops a fever during labor Has not delivered her baby within 18 hours of her water breaking Goes into labor before 37 weeks and has not been tested for GBS Antibiotics usually are not needed if the mother has a C-section delivery. If a pregnant woman tests positive for GBS, she should remind her health care team during labor. Her reminders will help her health care team provide the best possible care during labor and delivery. GBS typically does not affect the length of time a mother and her baby spend in the hospital, and it does not affect her ability to breastfeed safely. Adults Although it is not available yet, researchers are working on a GBS vaccine that could, in the future, help prevent GBS infections among adults. Recent Texas Trends In Texas, only cases of invasive GBS disease are reportable. The number of GBS cases reported to DSHS ranged from 26 (0.12 cases per 100,000 population) in the year 2001, the first year GBS invasive disease was reportable in Texas, to 658 in 2009 (2.65 cases per 100,000 population.) Review of the data by age group for 2009 reveals that the majority of GBS cases in Texas occurred in older adults aged 65 years or more and in infants and toddlers aged 0–4 years. Out of the 658 confirmed cases in 2009, there were 207 cases of GBS in individuals aged 65 years or older and 127 cases in those individuals aged 0–4 years.
Organism
Group B Streptococcal (GBS) disease is caused by Streptococcus agalactiae or group B Streptococcus bacteria.
Transmission
These bacteria can be present in areas of the body such as mucous membranes (for example, in the throat or vagina) and skin. A streptococcal infection is considered to be invasive when the bacteria have entered a part of the body that is normally not exposed to bacteria; such as blood, bone, or spinal fluid.
For infected infants, the mother may pass the bacteria to the baby or the bacteria may come from another source. The source of infection for adults is unknown. Since group B strep is a common organism in the gastrointestinal tract of men and women, this may be a source of some adult infections.
Symptoms
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), GBS is the most common cause of sepsis (blood infection) and meningitis (infection of the fluid and lining around the brain) in newborns. GBS disease can occur in the first week of life ("early-onset disease") or one week to several months after birth ("late-onset disease"). The symptoms of group B strep disease can seem like other health problems in newborns and infants. Most newborns with early-onset disease have symptoms on the day of birth. Babies who develop late-onset disease may appear healthy at birth and develop symptoms of group B strep disease after the first week of life. Some symptoms that might be seen in an infant with GBS are fever, difficulty feeding, irritability, lethargy (limpness or hard to wake up the baby), difficulty breathing, and a blue-ish color to the skin. Some babies have complications from illness that include deafness, developmental disabilities, or death.
In adults, GBS disease is more common among older adults who have serious medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, kidney, liver, or chronic heart disease. The most common problems caused by group B strep in adults are bloodstream infections, pneumonia (infection in the lungs), skin and soft-tissue infections, and bone and joint infections. Rarely in adults, group B strep can cause meningitis (infection of the fluid and lining surrounding the brain). Serious group B strep infections in adults can be fatal.
Prevention
Infants
For women who are pregnant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a GBS screening between weeks 35 and 37 of pregnancy. To prevent GBS from spreading from a pregnant woman to her baby during labor, a mother can take an antibiotic when labor begins.
Antibiotic treatment during labor is also recommended if the mother:
Antibiotics usually are not needed if the mother has a C-section delivery.
If a pregnant woman tests positive for GBS, she should remind her health care team during labor. Her reminders will help her health care team provide the best possible care during labor and delivery. GBS typically does not affect the length of time a mother and her baby spend in the hospital, and it does not affect her ability to breastfeed safely.
Adults
Although it is not available yet, researchers are working on a GBS vaccine that could, in the future, help prevent GBS infections among adults.
Recent Texas Trends
In Texas, only cases of invasive GBS disease are reportable. The number of GBS cases reported to DSHS ranged from 26 (0.12 cases per 100,000 population) in the year 2001, the first year GBS invasive disease was reportable in Texas, to 658 in 2009 (2.65 cases per 100,000 population.) Review of the data by age group for 2009 reveals that the majority of GBS cases in Texas occurred in older adults aged 65 years or more and in infants and toddlers aged 0–4 years. Out of the 658 confirmed cases in 2009, there were 207 cases of GBS in individuals aged 65 years or older and 127 cases in those individuals aged 0–4 years.
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