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Group B Streptococcal Infections
Group B streptococcal infections are the most common cause of meningitis in newborns.
Image used with permission from the Streptococcus & Diphtheria Reference Unit
Group B streptococci (Streptococcus agalactiae) can form part of the normal human flora, but under certain conditions they may act as opportunistic pathogens causing severe disease.
What's new
- February 2010: Symposium on current advances in the diagnosis, management and treatment of neonatal GBS infections, London, 17 June 2010
- November 2009: Pyogenic and non-pyogenic streptococcal bacteraemia, England, Wales and Northern Ireland: 2008
- May 2008: European collaborative project DEVANI (DEvelopment of a Vaccine Against Neonatal I nfections) has been underway since the beginning of 2008
- June 2006: New laboratory standard operating protocol (SOP) on screening awabs for GBS carriage published
- May 2006: Launch of Group B Streptococcus on line learning package
© Health Protection Agency 2010