What Does GBS Stand For?
GBS stands for Group B Streptococcus, also known by its scientific name Streptococcus agalactiae. 1, 2
Clinical Definition
GBS is a gram-positive bacterium that causes invasive disease primarily in:
- Newborns (the leading infectious cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality)
- Pregnant and postpartum women
- Adults with underlying medical conditions (e.g., diabetes mellitus)
- Older adults 2
Key Clinical Context
In Neonates
GBS disease is categorized by timing:
- Early-onset disease: Occurs within the first 7 days of life (typically within 24-48 hours), presenting as sepsis, pneumonia, or meningitis 1, 2
- Late-onset disease: Occurs from 7 days to 3 months of age, with meningitis occurring in 31% of cases 3
In Pregnancy
- 10-30% of pregnant women are colonized with GBS in the vaginal or rectal area 1, 2, 4
- The gastrointestinal tract serves as the primary reservoir, with secondary spread to the genitourinary tract 1, 4
- Colonization can be transient, intermittent, or persistent 4, 2
Disease Impact
The case-fatality rate has improved dramatically due to prevention efforts:
- Current mortality: 4-6% overall for early-onset disease in recent years 2
- Preterm infants: 20-30% mortality at ≤33 weeks' gestation 2
- Term infants: 2-3% mortality 2
This represents a significant improvement from the 15-50% mortality rates observed in the 1970s 1, 2.