What causes group B streptococcal infection?
Group B strep bacteria normally exist in the intestine, vagina, or rectum. A pregnant woman can transmit the bacteria to her fetus during delivery. Between 15% and 30% of mothers are carriers of group B streptococcal bacteria, which means that they carry the bacteria but have no illness from it. It is unclear why some babies get group B strep infection and others do not. Newborns may develop the infection hours after birth or during the first week of life, or it may happen several months later. Newborns who develop group B strep within the first week are most always infected by their mothers. It’s not clear how babies who develop the infection later are exposed to the bacteria. What are the symptoms? Newborns infected with group B strep within the first 6 days of life may get a blood infection (sepsis) or lung infection (pneumonia). Symptoms of late-stage group B strep (7 days to 3 months of age) may include high or low body temperature, irritability, low energy, raised respiratory rat
