Group B Strep poses significant problems when contracted by a newborn. The infection can quickly develop into pneumonia, sepsis (an infection that spreads through the body), and meningitis. It can result in the death of the baby. Babies who survive may develop life-long disabilities such as cerebral palsy. As the bacteria can be transferred from a mother who carried the bacteria even if she was not symptomatic to her baby during labor and delivery most doctors agree that appropriate antibiotics should be administered during labor if certain conditions are met.
The conditions doctors generally consider in determining whether to administer antibiotics during labor are:
(1) The mother was Group B Strep positive in a previous pregnancy.
(2) The mother was Group B Strep positive during the current pregnancy (asymptomatic expectant mothers are normally screened for Group B Strep during weeks 35 to 37 of the pregnancy).
(3) The mother's medical history is unknown and the mother was not screened during weeks 25 to 37 of the current pregnancy.
(4) The mother is otherwise at high risk of being Group B Strep.
One of the factors that places a woman at risk for Group B Strep is when her membranes rupture more than 18 hours prior to labor. As this places the expectant mother at high risk of transmitting Group B Strep to her baby doctors generally administer antibiotics during labor.
In this case a 19 year old pregnant woman was admitted to the hospital prior to full term. While at the hospital her baby was delivered. It was known by the physician who delivered the baby that the woman had experienced a rupture of her membranes more than 18 hours prior to commencing labor. The physician, however, did not administer appropriate antibiotics for Group B Strep. Upon birth her baby was depressed and required resuscitation. The medical staff at the hospital eventually realized that this was due to a Group B Strep infection. Despite attempts at treatment by the hospital staff the baby died two days after birth due to complications from the infection. The law firm that represented the baby's mother was able to report that the case went to trial and the jury returned a verdict in amount of $457,000.
As this case illustrates the failure to administer proper antibiotics during labor for a woman whose membranes ruptured more than 18 yours earlier may result in the transmission of Group B Strep to her baby. The consequences can be tragic. The baby may suffer irreversible permanent harm or, as in the case above, may not survive. A physician who fails to administer antibiotics in a situation such as this may be liable for malpractice.
Author Resource:-
Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney focused on catastrophic injury cases. To learn more about Group B Strep infection cases visit his website at www.birth-injury-malpractice-law.com.
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