A review of beta-haemolytic streptococcal infection in babies.
The incidence of beta-haemolytic group B streptococcal infection in babies at or shortly after birth appears to have risen during the last 20 years. About 30% of women could be colonized at any one time, and because of the transient nature of this organism research has failed to find a way of identifying women who will be colonized at the end of pregnancy. The baby is at risk of early-onset disease from mother-to-baby transmission during the birth process. If identified early enough, those mothers who present a risk can be treated in time to protect the baby during the birth. Late-onset disease can be the result of cross-infection from carers, and the education of midwives, nurses and mothers could reduce the risk. Education could also aid identification of the early signs of disease, and therefore increase the likelihood of a successful outcome of treatment.