Group B Strep Infections May Lead to Prenatal or Birth Injuries

By Grant Law Office on February 16, 2012

Group B Strep (GBS) is a type of infectious bacteria carried by up to 25 percent of American women of childbearing age. For most of these women, GBS causes no symptoms – it simply rides along in the body. Many other women experience recurring vaginal yeast infections or urinary tract infections without realizing these are caused by GBS. However, GBS can cause serious and life-threatening harm to a developing baby or newly-born infant if it is not treated.

Mothers who have high fevers or recurring vaginal or urinary tract infections should have a urine test performed for GBS. Even if the test comes back negative or the mother is not tested, she should alert her doctor immediately if she goes into labor before 37 weeks, goes more than 12 hours between her water breaking and delivering the child, or experiences a fever over 100 degrees at any point during her pregnancy.

GBS can be treated at any time during the pregnancy, birth, or after birth by administering antibiotics to the mother, infant, or both. Infants born to GBS-positive mothers should also be treated with penicillin or another antibiotic as soon as possible after birth – preferably, within an hour.

Injuries caused by prenatal infections can permanently change the course of a child’s life. If your child has been injured by a prenatal infection or other birth event, the dedicated Georgia birth injury lawyers at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. can help. For a free and confidential consultation, call our Atlanta office at (404) 995-3955 today.