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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staff
Adults
If you're a pregnant woman, group B strep can cause:
- Urinary tract infection
- Infection of the placenta and amniotic fluid (chorioamnionitis)
- Inflammation and infection of the membrane lining the uterus (endometritis)
- Infection of the bloodstream (sepsis)
If you're an older adult or you have a chronic health condition, group B strep bacteria may cause complications such as:
- Skin infection (cellulitis)
- Infection of the bloodstream (sepsis)
- Urinary tract infection
- Inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia)
- Bone and joint infections
- Infection of the heart valves (endocarditis)
- Inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)
Infants
Group B strep infection can lead to life-threatening complications in infants, including:
- Inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia)
- Inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)
- Infection in the bloodstream (bacteremia)
- Repke JT, et al. Patient information: Group B streptococcus and pregnancy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 12, 2008.
- Group B strep prevention: Frequently asked questions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/GroupBStrep/general/gen_public_faq.htm. Accessed Sept. 2, 2008.
- Group B strep prevention: Beyond newborns and mothers - some facts about group B strep disease in the rest of the population. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/general/gen_public_adult.htm. Accessed Sept. 2, 2008.
- Group B strep prevention: Protect your baby from group B strep! Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/general/protect-your-baby-GBS.htm. Accessed Sept. 2, 2008.
- Puopolo KM, et al. Group B streptococcal infection in pregnant women. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 12, 2008.
- Urinary tract infections in women. American Academy of Family Physicians. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/gen-health/190.html. Accessed Sept. 16, 2008.
- Puopolo KM, et al. Group B streptococcal infection in neonates and young infants. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 12, 2008.
- Baron M, et al. Group B streptococcal infection in nonpregnant adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 12, 2008.
