MediFocus MedCenter Preview for Group B Streptococcus Infection in Newborns

MediFocus MedCenter ^©

Group B Streptococcus Infection in Newborns
(NF010)
Introduction

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a bacteria that is a common cause of infection. Sometimes, however, it is present in certain areas of the body but causes no symptoms or illness. This is referred to as colonization. One out of every five women is colonized with GBS in the gastrointestinal or genitourinary tract.

When a woman who is colonized with GBS is pregnant, the bacteria can be passed on to the infant through aspiration of contaminated amniotic fluid or acquisition of the organism during passage through the birth canal. Infection with GBS may occur in one of several locations in the infant's body.

Pregnancy-associated GBS disease can affect the mother, as well. If the infection spreads upward, it can result in maternal sepsis or even meningitis.

The focus of care in GBS disease has become prevention. The goals of care include detection of at risk pregnancies and intrapartum (during delivery) prophylactic (preventive) treatment with antibiotics.

Get the Facts... With your MediFocus Guide

The Medifocus Guide on Group B Streptococcus in Newborns provides answers to the following important questions and medical issues:

Are there any recognized risk factors for developing Group B Streptococcus in Newborns?
What kinds of medical tests are used to establish the diagnosis of Group B Streptococcus in Newborns?
What is the current standard of care for the treatment of Group B Streptococcus in Newborns?
What treatment options are available for the management of Group B Streptococcus in Newborns?
Are there any promising new developments or potential breakthroughs in treatment?
Who are the most notable medical authorities who specialize in Group B Streptococcus in Newborns?
Where are the leading hospitals and centers of research for Group B Streptococcus in Newborns?
What are the most important questions to ask my doctor about Group B Streptococcus in Newborns?

What Your Doctor Reads:

This MediFocus Guide contains an extensive listing of citations and abstracts of recent journal articles that have been published about this condition in trustworthy medical journals. This is the same type of information that is available to physicians and other health care professionals. A partial selection of journal articles that are abstracted in this MediFocus Guide includes:

Intrapartum antibiotics for group B streptococcal colonisation.
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews [computer file]. 2000
Antimicrobial prevention of early-onset group B streptococcal sepsis: estimates of risk reduction based on a critical literature review.
Pediatrics. 1999
Risk factors for early-onset group B streptococcal sepsis: estimation of odds ratios by critical literature review.
Pediatrics. 1999
Prevention of perinatal group B streptococcal infections.
Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 1999
Group B streptococcus.
Lancet. 1999
Prevention of neonatal group B streptococcal infections. Is there a rational prevention strategy?.
Clinics in Perinatology. 1998
Group B streptococcal infections.
Seminars in Perinatology. 1998
Prevention of neonatal group B streptococcal infection.
American Family Physician. 1998
Concepts and controversies in the management of group B streptococcus during pregnancy.
Birth. 1998
Prophylaxis for neonatal group B streptococcus infections.
Seminars in Perinatology. 1998

MediFocus Guides... When You Need Trustworthy Medical Information

MediFocus.com understands that consumers who are facing serious medical issues need access to credible, up-to-date medical information to help them make informed health-care decisions. That's why we've developed the MediFocus Guides...the most advanced and trustworthy patient research guides for over 200 chronic and life-threatening conditions. Each MediFocus Guide includes a detailed overview of the condition including information about diagnosis, treatment options, cutting-edge research, and new developments; excerpts of important journal articles from the current medical literature focusing on standard treatments and treatment options; a directory of leading authors and medical institutions who specialize in the treatment of the condition; and a listing of organizations and support groups where you can obtain additional information about the illness.

MediFocus Guides are the perfect solution for consumers who wish to gain an in-depth understanding of their medical issue and avail themselves of the same type of professional level medical information that is used by physicians and other health-care professionals to help then in the clinical decision making process.