Group B Streptococcus (Group B Strep or GBS) is a common bacterial infection that is usually harmless in healthy adults but can pose a significant risk to newborn babies during childbirth and the neonatal period. In many cases, it is preventable or manageable with timely medical intervention. Tragically, delays or failures in diagnosis and treatment have led to preventable injuries and even deaths – bringing Group B Strep into sharp focus as a growing concern in medical negligence claims.
What is Group B Streptococcus?
Group B Streptococcus is a bacterium carried by around 20 – 40% of women, often without symptoms. It’s typically found in the gastrointestinal or genital tract and doesn’t usually cause problems for the carrier. However, during childbirth, GBS can be passed onto the baby and can lead to severe complications such as:
- Sepsis
- Pneumonia
- Meningitis
- Permanent brain injury
- Stillbirth or neonatal death
GBS is the UK’s most common cause of life-threatening infection in newborn babies,
How is Group B Strep diagnosed?
GBS is not routinely screened for in pregnant women by the NHS. It is often identified during routine testing for other reasons, such as a urine test or vaginal swabs. If GBS is detected particularly in a urine sample, it is treated with antibiotics.
Some women choose to be tested privately, and some hospitals may offer testing depending on whether specific risk factors are present such as being GBS positive in a previous pregnancy or if labour is preterm.
If GBS is found during labour, intravenous antibiotics are given to reduce the risk of transmission to the baby. The risk of transmission to the baby is increased if waters break prematurely or if the mother develops a fever during labour.
Group B Strep and medical negligence
Unfortunately, many GBS-related injuries occur due to failures in maternity care. Common grounds for medical negligence claims involving GBS include:
- Failure to screen a mother for GBS when indicated
- Failure to act on a known GBS-positive result
- Failure to administer antibiotics during labour
- Delayed recognition and treatment of baby’s symptoms
- Inadequate monitoring of at-risk babies post-delivery
These failures can have devastating consequences, leading to injuries that leave families facing a lifetime of care needs, emotional trauma, or the loss of a child – all of which may have been avoidable.
Legal rights and recourse after Group B Strep negligence
If your baby is injured because of GBS mismanagement, you may be entitled to bring a medical negligence claim on behalf of your child against the hospital or healthcare provider. These claims seek compensation for the injuries caused, as well as:
- Long-term care and rehabilitation costs
- Loss of earnings
- Accommodation needs
- Aids and equipment needed
A successful claim also brings accountability and can help push for improvements in maternity protocols to prevent future harm.
Raising awareness and prevention of Group B Strep
Campaign groups like the Group B Strep Support https://gbss.org.uk have long advocated for routine screening and greater awareness among clinicians and pregnant women. As knowledge of the condition grows, so does the responsibility of healthcare professionals to provide safe, informed care during pregnancy and childbirth.
Details of home testing kits from a supplier offering Enriched Culture Medium (ECM) tests can also be found on their website. These kits are more accurate than a standard culture test, so are recommended for anyone who is worried they might be a carrier.
It is Group B Strep Awareness week from 8 – 14 July 2025 and further information about this can be found on their website.
Group B Strep is a preventable cause of serious neonatal illness and death. Where medical professionals fail to follow guidelines or act promptly, and harm results, affected families deserve answers. Legal action can never undo the harm, but it can help secure the resources families need to move forward and shine a spotlight on necessary improvements in perinatal care.
If you believe your child was harmed due to negligent handling of Group B Strep, contact our specialist medical negligence team today for confidential legal advice.