Overview
Group B strep (streptococcus) is a common bacterium often carried in the intestines or lower genital tract. The bacterium is usually harmless in healthy adults. In newborns, however, it can cause a serious illness known as group B strep disease.
Group B strep can also cause dangerous infections in adults with certain chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes or liver disease. Older adults are at increased risk of illness due to group B strep, too.
If you’re a healthy adult, there’s nothing you need to do about group B strep. If you’re pregnant, get a group B strep screening test during your third trimester. If you have group B strep, antibiotic treatment during labor can protect your baby.
Symptoms
Infants
Most babies born to women carrying group B strep are healthy. But the few who are infected by group B strep during labor can become critically ill.
In infants, illness caused by group B strep can be within six hours of birth (early onset) — or weeks or months after birth (late onset).
Signs and symptoms might include:
- Fever
- Low body temperature
- Difficulty feeding
- Sluggishness, limpness or weak muscle tone
- Difficulty breathing
- Irritability
- Jitteriness
- Seizures
- Rash
- Jaundice
Adults
Many adults carry group B strep in their bodies — usually in the bowel, vagina, rectum, bladder or throat — and have no signs or symptoms.
In some cases, however, group B strep can cause a urinary tract infection or other more-serious infections. Signs and symptoms of infections that may be caused by group B strep include the following.
Urinary tract infection
- A strong, persistent urge to urinate
- A burning sensation or pain when urinating
- Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
- Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola colored — a sign of blood in the urine
- Pelvic pain
Blood infection (bacteremia)
- Fever
- Chills
- Confusion or lack of alertness
Pneumonia
- Fever
- Chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain when you breathe or cough
Skin or soft-tissue infection
- Swelling, warmth or redness in the area of the infection
- Pain in the area of the infection
- Lesions with pus or drainage
Bone or joint infection
- Fever
- Chills
- Swelling, warmth or redness over the area of the infection
- Pain in the area of the infection
- Stiffness or inability to use a limb or joint
When to see a doctor
If you have signs or symptoms of group B strep infection — particularly if you’re pregnant, you have a chronic medical condition or you’re older than 65 — contact your doctor right away.
If you notice your infant has signs or symptoms of group B strep disease, contact your baby’s doctor immediately.
Symptoms
Infants
Most babies born to women carrying group B strep are healthy. But the few who are infected by group B strep during labor can become critically ill.
In infants, illness caused by group B strep can be within six hours of birth (early onset) — or weeks or months after birth (late onset).
Signs and symptoms might include:
- Fever
- Low body temperature
- Difficulty feeding
- Sluggishness, limpness or weak muscle tone
- Difficulty breathing
- Irritability
- Jitteriness
- Seizures
- Rash
- Jaundice
Adults
Many adults carry group B strep in their bodies — usually in the bowel, vagina, rectum, bladder or throat — and have no signs or symptoms.
In some cases, however, group B strep can cause a urinary tract infection or other more-serious infections. Signs and symptoms of infections that may be caused by group B strep include the following.
Urinary tract infection
- A strong, persistent urge to urinate
- A burning sensation or pain when urinating
- Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
- Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola colored — a sign of blood in the urine
- Pelvic pain
Blood infection (bacteremia)
- Fever
- Chills
- Confusion or lack of alertness
Pneumonia
- Fever
- Chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain when you breathe or cough
Skin or soft-tissue infection
- Swelling, warmth or redness in the area of the infection
- Pain in the area of the infection
- Lesions with pus or drainage
Bone or joint infection
- Fever
- Chills
- Swelling, warmth or redness over the area of the infection
- Pain in the area of the infection
- Stiffness or inability to use a limb or joint
When to see a doctor
If you have signs or symptoms of group B strep infection — particularly if you’re pregnant, you have a chronic medical condition or you’re older than 65 — contact your doctor right away.
If you notice your infant has signs or symptoms of group B strep disease, contact your baby’s doctor immediately.
