Group B streptococcal infection (patient information)
For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.B.B.S
Overview
Group B streptococcal septicemia is a severe bacterial infection that affects newborn infants.
What are the symptoms of (condition)?
- Anxious or stressed appearance
- Blue appearance (cyanosis)
- Breathing difficulties such as:
o Grunting noises o Flaring of the nostrils o Rapid breathing o 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)
Who is at highest risk?
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
When to seek urgent medical care?
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.
Diagnosis
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 options
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.
Diseases with similar symptoms
Where to find medical care for (condition)?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Condition
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
This disease can be deadly without prompt treatment.
Possible 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
Sources
This is where put your categories, such as Category:Patient information and Category:Cardiology patient information.
Please note: Category:Patient information should have lower case i
Prohibited Categories: Patient Information, Gastroentrology, Inborn errors of metabolism patient information, Inborn errors of metabolism
- Cardiology patient information
- Congenital disorders patient information
- Dermatology patient information
- Drug patient information
- Emergency medicine patient information
- Endocrinology patient information
- Gastroenterology patient information
- Genetic disorders patient information
- Gynecology patient information
- Hematology patient information
- Infectious disease patient information
- Immunology patient information
- Metabolic disorders patient information
- Neurology patient information
- Neurosurgery patient information
- Obstetrics patient information
- Oncology patient information
- Opthalmology patient information
- Orthopedics patient information
- Otolaryngology patient information
- Pediatrics patient information
- Psychiatry patient information
- Pulmonary patient information
- Rheumatology patient information
- Patient information
- Overview complete