Group B Streptococcus (GBS) Infections Questions & Answers

Updated: Apr 21, 2021
  • Author: Christian J Woods, MD, FACP, FCCP, FIDSA; Chief Editor: Michael Stuart Bronze, MD  more...
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Questions & Answers

Overview

What is group B Streptococcus (GBS)?

Where in the body do group B Streptococcus (GBS) organisms colonize?

What are the signs and symptoms of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection?

Which physical findings suggest group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection?

What is the role of lab studies in workup of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection?

What is the role of imaging studies in the workup of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection?

Which procedures may be performed in the workup of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection?

Which antibiotics are used for the treatment of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection?

What is the treatment of choice for endocarditis due to group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection?

What testing is required before clindamycin is selected for the treatment of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection?

What is the role of surgical intervention in the treatment of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection?

What is group B Streptococcus (GBS), and which diseases does it cause?

Where in the body does group B streptococci colonize and how is it transmitted to neonates?

Which factors increase the risk of group B streptococcal (GBS) neonatal sepsis?

How is neonatal group B streptococcal (GBS) disease characterized?

What are the barriers to development of a group B Streptococcus (GBS) vaccine?

What is the current approach to the prevention of group B streptococcal (GBS) infection in pregnancy?

Where has the clinical spectrum of group B streptococci disease been described?

Which conditions increase the risk of group B streptococcal (GBS) disease in adults?

What are the risk factors for group B streptococcal (GBS) disease in elderly people?

Where in the body are group B streptococci commonly found?

What are the possible presentations of group B streptococcal (GBS) bacteremia in adults?

What are the common presentations of group B streptococcal (GBS) disease?

Which antibiotics are effective in the treatment of group B Streptococcus (GBS)?

What is the appearance of Streptococcus agalactiae (S agalactiae) in cultures?

What is the virulence of Streptococcus agalactiae (S agalactiae)?

Where in the human body do group B streptococci colonize and what is the portal of entry?

What is the incidence of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections in the US?

What is the global incidence of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections?

What is the mortality and morbidity of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections?

How does the prevalence of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection vary among races?

How does the prevalence of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections vary between men and women?

How does the incidence of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections vary among age groups?

Presentation

Which medical conditions are risk factors for group B streptococcal (GBS) disease?

Which history suggests group B streptococcal (GBS) pneumonia?

Which history suggests group B streptococcal (GBS) meningitis?

Which history suggests group B streptococcal (GBS) bacteremia?

What are the signs and symptoms of group B streptococcal (GBS) infection?

What are common complications in group B streptococcal (GBS) infections?

What are the signs and symptoms of group B streptococcal (GBS) pneumonia?

What are the signs and symptoms of group B streptococcal (GBS) meningitis?

What are the signs and symptoms of group B streptococcal (GBS) bacteremia?

What are the signs and symptoms of group B streptococcal (GBS) skin and soft-tissue infection?

What are the signs and symptoms of group B streptococcal (GBS) urinary tract infection?

What are the signs and symptoms of group B streptococcal (GBS) pneumonia?

What are the signs and symptoms of group B streptococcal (GBS) meningitis?

What are the signs and symptoms of group B streptococcal (GBS) bacteremia?

What are the signs and symptoms of group B streptococcal (GBS) skin and soft-tissue infection?

What are the signs and symptoms of group B streptococcal (GBS) urinary tract infection?

DDX

What are the differential diagnoses for Group B Streptococcus (GBS) Infections?

Workup

What is the role of Gram stain in the workup of group B Streptococcus (GBS)?

How is invasive group B streptococcal (GBS) infection diagnosed?

Which lab studies may detect group B streptococcal (GBS) antigen?

When is radiography indicated in the workup of group B streptococcal (GBS) infections?

When is CT scanning indicated in the workup of group B streptococcal (GBS) infections?

When is echocardiography indicated in the workup of group B streptococcal (GBS) infections?

What is the role of imaging studies in the workup of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection in elderly patients?

What is the role of imaging studies in the workup of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection in postpartum woman?

What is the role of rapid tests for assessment of maternal group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization at labor?

What is the efficacy of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection?

When should a group B Streptococcus (GBS) sample be collected during a pelvic exam?

What is the role of thoracentesis in the diagnosis and treatment of group B streptococcal (GBS) pneumonia?

When is valve replacement indicated in the treatment of group B streptococcal (GBS) disease?

When is surgical intervention indicated in the treatment of group B streptococcal (GBS) disease?

When is aspiration indicated in the workup of group B streptococcal (GBS) infections?

Treatment

What is the initial therapy for group B streptococcal (GBS) infection?

What is the resistance of group B streptococci to clindamycin and erythromycin?

What is initial treatment of choice for group B streptococcal (GBS) infection in patients who are allergic to penicillin?

What are the roles of fluoroquinolones and linezolid in the treatment of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections?

When is surgery indicated in the treatment of group B streptococcal (GBS) pneumonia?

When is cardiovascular surgery indicated in the treatment of group B streptococcal (GBS) disease?

When is surgery combined with parenteral antibiotic therapy indicated in the treatment of group B streptococcal (GBS) infection?

Which complications of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections are surgical emergencies?

When is surgery indicated in the treatment of group B streptococcal (GBS) urinary tract infection?

Which specialist consultations may be required in the management of group B streptococcal (GBS) infections?

Which specialist should be consulted in the treatment of group B streptococcal (GBS) pneumonia?

Which specialist should be consulted in the treatment of group B streptococcal (GBS) bacteremia, endocarditis, or line-related sepsis?

Which specialist should be consulted in the treatment of group B streptococcal (GBS) soft-tissue infection, osteomyelitis, epidural abscess, discitis, and arthritis?

Which specialist should be consulted in the treatment of group B streptococcal (GBS) urinary tract infection?

Guidelines

What are the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) guidelines on the prevention of group B streptococcal (GBS) disease in preterm labor?

Medications

What are the goals of drug treatment in the management of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections?

Which medications in the drug class Antibiotics are used in the treatment of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) Infections?

Follow-up

What are the possible approaches to prevention of group B streptococcal (GBS) infection in neonates?

Is there a vaccine for group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection?

What has been shown to be efficacious for the prevention of group B Streptococcus (GBS) in neonates?

What is the approach for preventing group B streptococcal (GBS) infection in non-pregnant adults?

What are the possible complications of group B streptococcal (GBS) infection in women?

What are the possible complications of group B streptococcal (GBS) infection in neonates?

What are possible complications of group B streptococcal (GBS) infection in elderly adults?

What is the prognosis of group B streptococcal (GBS) infection in healthy women, neonates, and elderly adults?