How do babies get the Group B strep infection?
Babies are exposed to Group B strep during labour and delivery. They may also be exposed after a mother s membranes rupture (“water breaks”). Babies become infected when they swallow or inhale the bacteria. It makes its way into the baby s bloodstream and can infect the baby s heart, lungs, and brain. What are the symptoms of Group B strep? Group B strep infection can appear in the baby in one of two ways: • Early onset disease (less than 7 days after birth) is characterized by bacterial infection in the baby s bloodstream, which often leads to respiratory distress, periods of irregular breathing, shock, pneumonia and meningitis. Early onset disease has a death rate of about 50%. It is acquired before or during delivery, and occurs more frequently in low birth weight infants. • Late onset disease (one week to several months after birth) is characterized by bacterial infection in the baby s bloodstream that often leads to meningitis. Late onset disease has a death rate of about 25% and
