Group B streptococcal septicemia of the newborn

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Group B strep; GBS

• Anxious or stressed appearance
• Blue appearance (cyanosis)
• Breathing difficulties such as:
  • Grunting noises
  • Flaring of the nostrils
  • Rapid breathing
  • Short periods without breathing
• Irregular heart rate - may be fast or extremely slow
• Lethargy
• Pale appearance (pallor) with cold skin
• Poor feeding
• Unstable body temperature (low or high)

To diagnose GBS septicemia, GBS bacteria must be found in a sample of blood (blood culture) taken from a sick newborn.

Other tests that may be done include:

• Blood clotting tests - prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
• Blood gases (to see if the baby needs help with breathing)
• Complete blood count
• CSF culture (to check for meningitis)
• Urine culture
• X-ray of the chest

Review Date: 12/10/2009
Reviewed By: Kimberly G. Lee, MD, MSc, IBCLC, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. Review Provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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