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26th September 2005 Charity launches awareness week against bacterial infection The first UK GBS Awareness Week will run from Monday, 26 September to Sunday 2 October 2005, aiming to raise awareness of group B streptococcus (GBS). GBS is the primary cause of bacterial infection in newborn babies, resulting in disease at birth and up to 3 months of age. The infections include septicaemia, pneumonia and meningitis. The charity Group B Strep Support (GBSS) is aiming to provide parents and healthcare professionals with potentially life-saving information throughout the course of this week Group B streptococcus is a particular type of streptococcal bacteria that's found in the lower intestine of up to 35 per cent of all healthy adults who are said to carry or be colonised with the group B strep. Around a quarter of healthy women also carry GBS in their vagina. The bacteria are some of the normal 'friendly' bacteria we all carry on or in our bodies. They cause no problems or symptoms and people are completely unaware that they have GBS. However, in certain circumstances group B strep can invade the body and cause serious infection with newborn babies being the most serious at risk. Each year up to 700 babies aged up to 3 months develop serious GBS infection and, even with the best medical care, 10 per cent of these babies will die as a result. Yet most of these infections are preventable if women in known higher-risk situations are given antibiotics during labour. GBSS are providing maternity units across the country with posters, pens and badges in a bid to raise awareness in both parents and medical staff. Many expectant parents have never heard of Group B Strep but the charity says that simple prevention measures stop GBS infections developing in babies in at least 6 out of every potential 10 cases. To find out more about the Awareness Week visit GBSS Where to next?
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