Group B streptococcal septicemia of the newborn
Alternate Names : Group B strep, GBS
Symptoms & Signs
- Anxious or stressed appearance
- Blue appearance (cyanosis)
- Breathing difficulties such as:
- Grunting noises
- Flaring of the nostrils
- Rapid breathing
- Short periods without breathing
- Irregular heart rate - may be fast or extremely slow
- Lethargy
- Pale appearance (pallor) with cold skin
- Poor feeding
- Unstable body temperature (low or high)
Diagnosis & Tests
To diagnose GBS septicemia, GBS bacteria must be found in a sample of blood (blood culture) taken from a sick newborn.
Other tests that may be done include: - Blood clotting tests - prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
- Blood gases (to see if the baby needs help with breathing)
- Complete blood count
- CSF culture (to check for meningitis)
- Urine culture
- X-ray of the chest
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