Group B streptococcus claims

Group B strep or GBS is a bacterial infection that is carried by 40% of the (male and female) adult population. Around one fifth (20%) of women carry GBS in their vagina or bowel. Group B strep infection is usually harmless, so those who carry the infection are often unaware. During pregnancy, it is more important for a woman to know if she is carrying group B strep as the infection can be dangerous for her baby.

During pregnancy and childbirth, the baby can become infected with group B strep, either from picking up the infection in their mother’s uterus (womb) or during delivery. Pregnant women who carry group B strep need careful management in pregnancy and labour. This includes prompt antibiotic treatment of any signs of infection, such as urinary tract infection (UTI) during pregnancy. They should also receive antibiotics during labour and birth to reduce their baby’s risk of early-onset GBS infection. 

When a baby picks up group B strep from their mother during pregnancy or birth, they usually start to show signs of infection within the first seven days of life. This is known as ‘early-onset’ neonatal group B strep. Babies can also develop what is known as ‘late-onset’ group B strep infection after the first week of their life, usually from exposure to other sources of infection.

Approximately 1 in every 1750 newborn babies in the UK and Ireland is diagnosed with early-onset group B streptococcus infection. With prompt diagnosis and treatment, most babies with group B strep recover, but delays in treatment can lead to death or long-term disability from sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis.

Newborn babies have a higher risk of group B strep infection if:

• they are born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy);
• their mother’s previous child was diagnosed with group B strep infection:
• their mother had a high temperature during labour (sign of infection);
• birth took place more than 18 hours after rupture of the membranes (waters breaking).

Newborn babies with high risk of GBS infection must be carefully monitored in hospital after birth.

A baby who has early-onset neonatal group B strep infection usually shows one or more of the following signs and symptoms within 12 hours of birth:

• floppy and unresponsive;
• grunting;
• irritable;
• abnormal temperature:
• abnormal heart-rate;
• abnormal respiration (breathing) rate;
• poor feeding;
• low blood pressure;
• low blood sugar;
• change in skin colour.

Group B strep infection is dangerous to newborn babies because their immune systems are undeveloped. Early-onset group B strep infection must be diagnosed and treated immediately for the best chance of a full recovery.

Delays in diagnosis and treatment can lead to life-threatening complications, such as:

• sepsis;
• septicaemia (‘blood poisoning’) from infection entering the bloodstream and spreading through the body;
• pneumonia from infection in the lung;
• meningitis from infection of the protective covering or ‘meninges’ of the brain and spinal cord.

These serious conditions can lead to the baby’s death or permanent disability from brain injury, cerebral palsy, deafness, blindness or serious learning disability.

If a newborn baby develops group B strep infection, they must receive intravenous (IV) antibiotics urgently in hospital. They will also undergo tests to confirm the infection, such as blood tests or lumbar puncture (to take a sample of cerebrospinal fluid).

Antibiotics should start within one hour of the treatment decision. Any delay in diagnosis and treatment can cause life-threatening injury or permanent disability.

Screening is not routinely offered to pregnant women in the UK.

In most cases, a pregnant woman who is known to carry group B strep will be monitored closely during pregnancy. She may be given antibiotics during pregnancy if she develops a GBS urine infection, if her waters break before 37 weeks of pregnancy or if she is having a caesarean section, and she will be offered antibiotics when she is in labour.

Some pregnant women choose to undergo GBS screening privately, so that they know if they are carrying group B strep infection and can ensure that they receive antibiotic treatment during their labour and the birth of their baby.

If a child has been severely injured as a result of negligent maternity or neonatal GBS care we can help their family secure substantial compensation to meet their child’s lifelong needs arising from their disability.

Common mistakes in maternity or neonatal group B strep care which lead to injury and group B strep negligence claims include:

• failing to comply with RCOG guidance;
• failing to inform the mother fully about GBS or her care plan in labour;
• failing to recommend or give antibiotics for signs of infection in pregnancy;
• delay in antibiotic treatment for a mother at risk of early-onset GBS infection in labour;
• failing to give antibiotics and offer induction of labour to a GBS-positive mother whose waters break before the start of labour;
• incorrectly advising a woman with GBS to stay at home in early labour;
• failing to inform the mother or document positive GBS test results;
• delayed recognition or escalation of care for babies with signs of early onset GBS infection;
• failing to recognise signs of the baby’s deterioration, including reluctance to feed;
• delay or failing to give antibiotics urgently to a baby with suspected neonatal GBS infection;
• failing to advise parents to seek urgent medical help if baby deteriorates (safety-netting).

Our clients’ compensation settlements are carefully calculated to reflect the client’s injury and disability, and then negotiated and structured to make the best provision to meet their lifelong needs. Depending on the circumstances of the case, we are often able to secure substantial interim payments whilst the case is still ongoing, to provide early help with care and support, therapies and specialist equipment, and home adaptations or the child and family’s move to more suitable accommodation.

Compensation settlements in group B strep negligence claims arising from severe disability often include payments for:

• pain, suffering and disability;
• care and case management;
• therapies - occupational therapy (OT), physiotherapy, speech and language therapy (SALT);
• adapted accommodation;
• specialist equipment, adapted vehicles and assistive technology;
• special educational support (SEN);
• financial losses, such as loss of earnings;
• other costs and expenses arising directly from the injury.