answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer
Definition

Group B streptococcal septicemia is a severe bacterial infection that affects newborn infants.

See also: Neonatal sepsis

Alternative Names

Group B strep; GBS

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The term "septicemia" refers to an infection in the bloodstream that may travel to different body organs. Group B streptococcal septicemia is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus agalactiae, which is commonly called "group B strep" or GBS. A newborn with septicemia is very sick.

GBS is commonly found in adults and older children, where it does not usually cause infection. There are two ways in which it may be passed to a newborn baby:

  • The infant can become infected as he or she passes through the birth canal. In this case, babies become ill between birth and 6 days of life (most often in the first 24 hours). This is called "early-onset" GBS disease.
  • The infant may also become infected after delivery by coming into contact with people who carry the GBS germ. In this case symptoms appear later, when the baby is 7 days to 3 months or more old. This is called "late-onset" GBS disease.

GBS now occurs less often, because methods to screen and treat pregnant women at risk are now being used.

The following increase an infant's risk for group B streptococcal septicemia:

  • History of giving birth to a baby with GBS sepsis
  • Mother who has a fever (over 100.4 degrees F) during labor
  • Mother who has group B streptococcus in her gastrointestinal, reproductive, or urinary tract
  • Prematurity
  • Rupture of membranes ("water breaks") more than 18 hours before baby is delivered
  • Use of intrauterine fetal monitoring ("scalp lead") during labor
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
Treatment

Treatment may involve one or more of the following:

  • Antibiotics given through a vein
  • Breathing help (respiratory support)
  • Fluids given through a vein
  • Medicines to reverse shock
  • Medicines or procedures to correct blood clotting problems
  • Oxygen therapy

A complex therapy called extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be used in very severe cases.

Expectations (prognosis)

This disease can be deadly without prompt treatment.

Complications

Possible complications include:

  • Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) -- a serious disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting are abnormally active
  • Hypoglycemia -- low blood sugar
  • Meningitis -- swelling (inflammation) of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord caused by infection
  • Respiratory failure -- breathing stops
Calling your health care provider

This disease is usually diagnosed shortly after birth, often while the baby is still in the hospital.

However, if you have a newborn at home who shows symptoms of this condition, seek immediate emergency medical help or call the local emergency number (such as 911).

Parents should particularly watch for symptoms in their baby's first 6 weeks. The early stages of this disease can produce subtle symptoms.

Prevention

The American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have established two methods to help reduce the risk of Group B streptococcal septicemia:

  • Pregnant women are tested for group B streptococcus at 35 - 37 weeks into their pregnancy. If the bacteria are detected, women are given antibiotics through a vein during labor.
  • Prenatal screening is not done, but a woman who meets certain risk factors is given antibiotics through a vein during labor.

Both sets of procedures are currently accepted as the standard of care.

Newborns who are at high risk are tested for GBS infection. They may receive antibiotics through a vein during the first 48 hours of life until blood culture results are available.

In all cases, proper hand washing by nursery caretakers, visitors, and parents helps prevent the spread of the bacteria after the infant is born.

An early diagnosis can help decrease the risk of some complications.

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.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago
Definition

Group B streptococcal septicemia is a severe bacterial infection that affects newborn infants.

See also: Neonatal sepsis

Alternative Names

Group B strep; GBS

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Septicemia is an infection in the bloodstream that may travel to different body organs. Group B streptococcal septicemia is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus agalactiae, which is commonly called "group B strep" or GBS. A newborn with septicemia is very sick.

GBS is commonly found in adults and older children, where it does not usually cause infection. There are two ways in which it may be passed to a newborn baby:

  • The infant can become infected as he or she passes through the birth canal. In this case, babies become ill between birth and 6 days of life (most often in the first 24 hours). This is called "early-onset" GBS disease.
  • The infant may also become infected after delivery by coming into contact with people who carry the GBS germ. In this case symptoms appear later, when the baby is 7 days to 3 months or more old. This is called "late-onset" GBS disease.

GBS now occurs less often, because now there are methods to screen and treat pregnant women at risk.

The following increase an infant's risk for group B streptococcal septicemia:

  • Being born more than 3 weeks before the due date (prematurity), especially if the mother goes into labor early (preterm labor)
  • Mother who has already given birth to a baby with GBS sepsis
  • Mother who has a fever (over 100.4 degrees F) during labor
  • Mother who has group B streptococcus in her gastrointestinal, reproductive, or urinary tract
  • Rupture of membranes ("water breaks") more than 18 hours before the baby is delivered
  • Use of intrauterine fetal monitoring ("scalp lead") during labor
Symptoms
  • Anxious or stressed appearance
  • Blue appearance (cyanosis)
  • Breathing difficulties such as:
    • Flaring of the nostrils
    • Grunting noises
    • Rapid breathing
    • Short periods without breathing
  • Irregular or abnormal heart rate - may be fast or very 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
Treatment

Treatment may involve one or more of the following:

  • Antibiotics given through a vein
  • Breathing help (respiratory support)
  • Fluids given through a vein
  • Medicines to reverse shock
  • Medicines or procedures to correct blood clotting problems
  • Oxygen therapy

A therapy called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be used in very severe cases.

Expectations (prognosis)

This disease can be life threatening without prompt treatment.

Complications

Possible complications include:

  • Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) -- a serious disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting are abnormally active
  • Hypoglycemia -- low blood sugar
  • Meningitis -- swelling (inflammation) of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord caused by infection
  • Respiratory failure -- breathing stops
Calling your health care provider

This disease is usually diagnosed shortly after birth, often while the baby is still in the hospital.

However, if you have a newborn at home who shows symptoms of this condition, seek immediate emergency medical help or call the local emergency number (such as 911).

Parents should watch for symptoms in their baby's first 6 weeks. The early stages of this disease can produce symptoms that are hard to spot.

Prevention

To help reduce the risk of Group B streptococcal septicemia, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that pregnant women get tested for group B streptococcus at 35 - 37 weeks into their pregnancy. If the bacteria are detected, women are given antibiotics through a vein during labor. If the mother goes into premature labor before 35 weeks, she should be tested for GBS.

Newborns who are at high risk are tested for GBS infection. They may receive antibiotics through a vein during the first 48 hours of life until blood culture results are available.

In all cases, proper hand washing by nursery caretakers, visitors, and parents can help prevent the spread of the bacteria after the infant is born.

An early diagnosis can help decrease the risk of some complications.

References

Verani JR, McGee L, Schrage SJ. Prevention of perinatal group B streptococcal disease: revised guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control 2010. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 59 (RR-10): 1–35, 2010 (Nov. 19).

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

Reviewed By

Review Date: 11/14/2011

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.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Group B streptococcal septicemia of the newborn?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

Why is group b Strep so important as potential pathogens?

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is best known as a cause of postpartum infection and as the most common cause of neonatal sepsis. Group B streptococcal infection in healthy adults is very uncommon but it is almost always associated with diabetes.


What is the most common life-threatening infection to newborns?

Invasive group B streptococcal (GBS) disease is the most common cause of life-threatening infection in newborns.


Your blood group is B negative can you marry a girl with B negative?

Yes, there's no problem. Your children won't have hemolytic disease of the newborn.


Who is Lil Wayne newborn son by?

SARAH B. SARAH B.


What is the prevalence of group B streptococcus perinatal infection in newborns in the United States?

About 1,600 cases and 80 newborn deaths still occur each year.


Will you immediately inject hepatitis B vaccine to a newborn whose mother is positive for hepatitis B?

no


What has the author Karen B Maloney written?

Karen B. Maloney has written: 'Infant Food & Nutrition of Newborn' -- subject(s): Baby foods, Bibliography, Indexes, Infant Food, Infant Nutrition, Infants (Newborn), Newborn Infant, Nutrition, Periodicals


What are the chief agents that cause meningitis in babies?

In newborns, the most common agents of meningitis are those that are contracted from the newborn's mother, including Group B streptococci, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes.


If you have B-negative blood type and your daughter has O- negative what does the father have?

Son has A-neg., wife has B-neg. newborn has Oneg.


Examples for transitive property of equality?

If at a competition group "a" defeats group "b", and group "b" defeats group "c" then group "a" will have to defeat group "C"


What does it mean when a newborn has b positive blood?

If a newborn has B positive blood, it means his blood has the B antigen and is Rh positive. There are 4 blood types: A, B, AB, and O. There are two Rh types Rh positive, Rh positive and Rh negative. That simply means what type of blood the baby would receive if it needed a transfusion.


Prove that the set of all real no is a group with respect of multiplication?

There are four requirements that need to be satisfied: A. Closure: For any two elements of the group, a and b, the operation a*b is also a member of the group. B. Associativity: For any three members of the group, a*(b*c) = (a*b)*c C. Identity: There exists an element in the group, called the identity and denoted by i, such that a*i = i*a for all a in the group. For real numbers with multiplication, this element is 1. D. Inverse: For any member of the group, a, there exists a member of the group, b, such that a*b = b*a = 1 (the identity). b is called the inverse of a and denoted by a-1.