July marks the beginning of International Group B Streptococcus (GBS) Awareness Month, a globally recognized observance dedicated to education and prevention efforts around Group B Strep infections. This year, the initiative—supported by health agencies like the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and Group B Strep International—focuses on bolstering knowledge, screening, and clinical practices to safeguard newborn health.
Group B Streptococcus is a bacterium commonly found in the gastrointestinal and genital tracts of healthy adults, often without causing symptoms. However, its presence in pregnant women poses a grave risk: when transmitted during childbirth, GBS can cause severe infections in neonates. Early-onset disease, occurring within the first week of life, and late-onset disease, manifesting up to three months postpartum, can lead to sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis in infants.
Studies estimate that between 18% and 30% of pregnant individuals worldwide carry GBS, with rates in the U.S. typically exceeding 20% . According to the World Health Organization, around 20 million pregnant women globally are colonized annually, translating into hundreds of thousands of cases of neonatal GBS disease.
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In the U.S., screening for GBS has become a cornerstone of prenatal care. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend universal vaginal–rectal culture, ideally performed around 36–37 weeks of gestation—unless a woman has already tested positive via urine culture during pregnancy. Women identified as GBS carriers receive intravenous antibiotics during labor to prevent bacterial transmission to their baby. This prophylactic approach has dramatically reduced early-onset GBS disease; without such measures, approximately 1–2% of neonates born to GBS-positive mothers would develop early-onset infection. With appropriate treatment, that risk drops to about 1 in 4,000.
The consequences of failing to prevent GBS infection can be devastating. Neonatal sepsis, pneumonia, or meningitis may result in permanent disabilities, including hearing loss, neurological impairments, or death in severe cases. Late-onset GBS, occurring between 7 days and 3 months of age, continues to pose a danger, particularly to premature or low-birth-weight infants, with risk factors including maternal colonization and prematurity.
July’s awareness campaign extends beyond medical protocols. Group B Strep International, now in its 25th year, encourages hospitals, NGOs, healthcare providers, and affected families to share stories and resources during “GBS Awareness Week,” held annually from July 8 to 14. Their toolkit includes templates for social media, educational leaflets, and materials to guide public outreach—initiatives supported by the U.S. HHS and echoed by healthcare systems nationwide.
The public health importance is underscored by sobering statistics: in 2021, the CDC reported an early-onset GBS incidence of approximately 0.21 per 1,000 live births in the U.S., with late-onset cases at 0.23 per 1,000. That translates to nearly 2,000 cases and around 2,000 newborn deaths or serious complications annually. Internationally, around 400,000 neonatal GBS cases occur each year, resulting in over 90,000 deaths and tens of thousands of survivors with long-term neurodevelopmental effects.
Despite these risks, awareness remains fragmented. Campaigns during July serve as critical reminders—especially for expectant parents planning prenatal visits. Educational drives encourage pregnant women to ask about their GBS screening status, understand its implications, and seek timely care if they test positive.
Clinicians are encouraged to reaffirm screening and prevention workflows. Hospitals and health systems are urged to integrate GBS education into prenatal visits and childbirth preparation courses. Community outreach efforts are also vital, particularly for marginalized groups with limited prenatal access.
Looking ahead, researchers hope to move beyond intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. Vaccine development is underway, with early-phase trials showing promise in maternal vaccines designed to reduce GBS colonization and transmission. A successful vaccine could fundamentally transform GBS prevention, offering protection without relying on antibiotics.
However, until such vaccines are available, established measures remain essential: universal late-pregnancy screening, antibiotics during labor for carriers, and heightened postnatal surveillance for infected newborns.
As July unfolds, awareness efforts amplify the message that GBS prevention is both achievable and lifesaving. Through coordinated actions—public education, routine screening, hospital protocols, and family engagement—the risk of neonatal GBS disease can be significantly reduced.
For expectant families: ask about your Group B Strep test. For healthcare providers: reinforce screening and IV antibiotic protocols. And for communities: share stories, spread resources, and support GBS research and advocacy.
