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Airborne and Direct Contact Diseases - Group B Strep
Group B streptococcus (group B strep) is a type of bacteria that causes illness in newborn babies, pregnant women, the elderly, and adults with other illnesses, such as diabetes or liver disease. Group B strep is the most common cause of life-threatening infections in newborns.
Group B strep is the most common cause of sepsis (blood infection)
and meningitis (infection of the fluid and lining around the brain) in newborns. Group B strep is a
frequent cause of newborn pneumonia and is more common than other, more well-known, newborn problems
such as rubella, congenital syphilis, and spina bifida. Good prenatal care and testing during pregnancy
can greatly reduce the risk of newborn infection.
- Group B Strep (PDF*)
- Group B Streptococcus 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 (PDF*)
- Federal CDC Group B Streptococcus page
- Group B Streptococcus Fact Sheet (Word* | also in PDF* )