Having successfully represented the families of children who have suffered severe brain injury as the result of the negligent failure to properly identify and treat Group B Strep during pregnancy, the Becker Law Firm is proud to support Group B Strep Awareness Month! Now in its 20th year, Group B Strep Awareness Month has allowed families and organizations across to the world to share their stories and promote healthy outcomes for babies worldwide.
To help educate the public about Group B Strep and birth injury risks, our team at The Becker Law Firm has put together the following information. You can learn more about Group B Strep and Group B Strep Awareness Month from Group B Strep International.
What Is Group B Strep?
Group B streptococcal septicemia (“Group B Strep” or “GBS”) is a type of bacteria naturally found in the digestive and lower reproductive tract. About 1 in 4 pregnant women “carry” group B strep, which can be passed from mother to baby before birth.
There are three types of perinatal GBS disease:
- Prenatal-onset GBS disease (before birth)
- Early-onset GBS disease (birth through the first 6 days of life)
- Late-onset GBS disease (7 days through 3 months of age)
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Group B Strep is a leading cause of sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia, and bloodstream infections in newborns. These conditions can lead to life-altering problems for children, including deafness, blindness, cognitive deficits, and developmental disabilities. GBS can also cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and preterm delivery.
GBS Testing & Prevention
Given the risks associated with GBS, it is now the standard of care in many countries to screen pregnant women when they are 35, 36, or 37 weeks pregnant. If there is a positive test, antibiotics administered via IV during labor can help prevent infection of the baby.
If a pregnant woman who tests positive for GBS receives antibiotics during labor, she has only a 1 in 4,000 chance of delivering a baby who will develop GBS disease. Without the antibiotic, her chances of delivering a baby who will develop GBS disease increases to 1 in 200.
The Becker Law Firm: Proven Representation for Birth Injury Victims
The Becker Law Firm is a nationally recognized Civil Trial Law Firm that has successfully represented the families of children who have suffered severe brain injury as the result of the negligent failure to properly identify and treat Group B Strep during pregnancy. We have secured record results and millions in compensation for victims of preventable birth injuries.
If your child has suffered harm as a result of group B strep, our award-winning attorneys are available to speak with you about your pregnancy and the care you received, and discuss whether you may have a viable birth injury claim. Medical professionals who treat pregnant mothers are required to provide care that conforms to applicable standards, and they can be held financially responsible for damages that result from their substandard care.
To request a free consultation with a lawyer from The Becker Law Firm, call or contact us online. Our legal team has extensive experience representing families in birth injury litigation, including cases involving failures to properly diagnose, manage, and treat infections and group B strep.