The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports group B Streptococcus is the leading cause of septicemia and meningitis in newborns. Septicemia is an infection of the bloodstream, and meningitis is an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal fluid. Group B Streptococcus (also known as group B Strep, GBS or Streptococcus agalactiae) is also a leading cause of pneumonia in newborns. Roughly 10 percent to 30 percent of women have group B Strep in their vaginal or rectal area. The group B Strep bacteria can infect a newborn at the time of birth. Group B Strep infection of the newborn can present in the first week of life (early-onset disease) or between eight days to three months old (late-onset disease). Antibiotics are used to cure neonatal group B Strep infections.
Penicillin G
Penicillin G is the antibiotic drug of choice for neonatal group B strep infections. It's administered intravenously, usually for 10 to 21 days--depending on the type of infection (sepsis, meningitis or pneumonia).
Ampicillin
Ampicillin is another effective antibiotic against neonatal group B Strep infections. It's an alternative to penicillin G. The medicine is given intravenously, usually for 10 to 21 days.
Vancomycin
Vancomycin is an effective antibiotic for the treatment of neonatal group B Strep infections. It's used primarily in infants who are allergic to or have an adverse reaction to penicillin. Vancomycin is given intravenously, usually for 10 to 21 days.
Other Antibiotics
Until it's certain that group B Strep is the cause of a neonatal infection, other antibiotics with a broad range of activity against many different kinds of bacteria are often given. Examples include gentamicin and cefazolin.
Symptomatic and Supportive Care
Treatment plans for infants with neonatal group B Strep infections include symptomatic and supportive care based on each child's unique clinical situation. Common types of symptomatic and supportive care include supplemental oxygen, nutritional and fluid support, and medication to prevent or control seizures.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Group B Strep prevention, frequently asked questions
- "Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, Sixth Edition"; Gerald L. Mandell, M.D., John E. Bennett, M.D., Raphael Dolin, M.D., Editors; 2004
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: ABCs Report: group B Streptococcus, 2008
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MMWR: Prevention of perinatal group B streptococcal disease, a public health perspective
- Merck Manual: Neonatal sepsis
