What serious problems in babies are caused by late-onset group B strep?
Late-onset group B strep disease most commonly causes bloodstream infections, pneumonia (infection of the lungs) or meningitis (infection of the fluid and lining surrounding the brain). Meningitis is more common among babies with late-onset disease than those who get sick during the first week of life. What babies are more at risk for late-onset group B strep disease? Late-onset group B strep disease is more common among babies who are born prematurely (< 37 weeks). The rates of late-onset disease are also higher among male infants, and among African American babies. Is there a way to prevent late-onset group B strep disease? Unfortunately, the method we recommend to prevent group B strep disease in the first week of life (giving women who are carriers of the bacteria antibiotics through the vein (IV) during labor) does not prevent late-onset disease. Although rates of disease in the first week of life have declined, rates of late-onset disease have remained fairly stable in the 1990s.
