| Group B Strep creates substantial concerns when | | | | physician might be liable for failing to meet the |
| it affects an infant.A newborn who acquires a | | | | standard of care. |
| Group B Strep infection is at significant danger of | | | | Consider the report of a lawsuit regarding a 19 |
| severe complications and even death. The | | | | year old woman who, in advance of reaching full |
| infection could readily advance into sepsis, | | | | term, was admitted to a hospital to deliver to her |
| pneumonia or meningitis and may lead to a | | | | baby. It was known by the doctor who delivered |
| serious disability. Doctors recognize that a mother | | | | the infant that the woman had experienced a |
| who is carrying the bacteria can transfer it to her | | | | rupture of her membranes beyond 18 hours |
| infant during childbirth. Due to the risks associated | | | | before the start of labor. Despite having been |
| with the bacteria in a newborn doctors thus | | | | given this significant piece of information the |
| normally treat expectant mothers who are either | | | | doctor did not administer antibiotics to guard from |
| known or suspected of carrying the bacteria with | | | | the potential transmission of the group b strep |
| antibiotics during labor. | | | | bacteria to the baby. Once birth her baby was |
| The conditions doctors generally take into account | | | | depressed and needed resuscitation. The medical |
| in determining whether to use antibiotics during | | | | staff at the hospital eventually recognized that |
| labor are as follow. The mother's medical history | | | | this was on account of a group b streptococcus |
| includes the detection of the GBS bacteria during | | | | infection. Despite efforts at treatment by the |
| a prior pregnancy. Routine screening between | | | | hospital staff the infant passed away 2 days |
| weeks 35 and 37 of the pregnancy showed the | | | | after delivery because of complications from the |
| presence of the bacteria. Physicians also in the | | | | infection. The law firm that represented the |
| main agree that the antibiotics be administered in | | | | baby's mother was able to report that the case |
| the course of labor when the expectant mother | | | | went to trial and the jury returned a verdict in |
| presents any of the risk factors for the presence | | | | amount of $457,000. |
| of the bacteria. One such risk factor is the | | | | This case illustrates that a Group B Strep infection |
| rupture of the pregnant woman's membranes | | | | can be deadly in a baby. The need for antibiotics |
| more than 18 hours prior to labor. In case a | | | | in instances where the expectant mother has one |
| doctor is aware of a known history or the | | | | or more risk factors is thus normally stressed by |
| presence of any of the risk factors yet does not | | | | physicians. A doctor who fails to use antibiotics in |
| provide antibiotics and the child subsequently | | | | a scenario such as this might be liable for |
| acquires a group b streptococcus infection and | | | | malpractice. |
| endures substantial injury because of this, the | | | | |