What is neonatal group B streptococcus disease?
- It is caused by the bacteria group B streptococcus. It can be found in healthy individuals within the intestines, reproductive tract, and urinary tract.
- It can cause serious illness in newborn infants.
How is group B streptococcus spread?
- If the bacteria are present in an individual's genital tract, it can be passed to the baby just before, or during childbirth.
- Other people who live with someone who has these bacteria, including other children, are not at risk of getting sick.
- There is no evidence that the bacteria can spread through food, water, or other things that people might have come into contact with.
What are the symptoms of group B streptococcus?
- symptoms can start with a fever, difficulty feeding, irritability, lethargy (limpness or hard to wake up baby), difficulty breathing, and a blueish colour to skin.
- It is important for the newborn to receive medical attention right away as symptoms can progress to sepsis, pneumonia, meningitis (inflammation in the brain), osteomyelitis (inflammation or swelling in the bone), apnea (breathing stops), or shock.
What is the treatment for group B streptococcus?
- Antibiotics can be used to get rid of these bacteria.
- Treatment will be decided by your healthcare provider.
- Treatment needs to be started as soon as possible.
Can group B streptococcus be prevented?
- Your healthcare provider can screen you during prenatal care.
- Individuals who are pregnant and who have the bacteria in their bodies can be given antibiotics to help decrease the chances of the newborn becoming infected and to decrease the severity of the disease.
Where can I get more information about group B streptococcus?
Contact the Communicable Disease Control (CDC) Program at 705-474-1400, or toll-free at 1-800-563-2808, ext. 5229 or email us at cdc@healthunit.ca.
References:
- Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (2025). Group B Strep (GBS). Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/group-b-strep/index.html
- Ministry of Health. (2022). Infectious Diseases Protocol, Appendix 1: Group B Streptococcus disease, neonatal. Retrieved from: https://files.ontario.ca/moh-ophs-group-b-streptococcal-disease-neonatal-en-2022.pdf
Created: March 2026, by CDC