Group B Streptococcus

What is Group B Streptococcus?

Group B streptococcus (GBS, group B strep), also known as Streptococcus agalactiae is a bacterium which can cause serious illness in newborn babies and pregnant women. It is commonly found in the gastro-intestinal or genital tract of humans but causes no symptoms. GBS is usually harmless in healthy adults, but certain groups have a higher risk of getting GBS disease. These include pregnant women, older adults, and people with medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, congestive heart failure, cancer, or obesity. GBS may cause disease in newborns who get infected during pregnancy and/or childbirth from GBS in their mother’s genital tract.