Group B Streptococcus Malpractice Lawyer

At The Eisen Law Firm, our Cleveland, Ohio, birth injury lawyers advocate for parents with children suffering from birth injury-related disabilities. We are experienced in handling cases of children with physical and cognitive disabilities. We understand how to identify medical errors that cause birth injuries. If you wish to visit with an attorney about your child’s birth injury, contact us online or call us at 216-687-0900 for a free consultation.

Maternal Infections During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, women may develop infections, and infection diagnosis and treatment are critical components of prenatal care. When medical professionals fail to diagnose and treat maternal infections, infants may suffer birth injuries that cause physical and cognitive disabilities, impacting children’s lives.

When a medical professional fails to diagnose or treat a maternal infection, an infant may sustain a birth injury, resulting in physical or cognitive disabilities. One type of maternal infection that can give rise to birth injuries is group B streptococcus, known as group B strep or GBS.

Group B Streptococcus

Group B streptococcus is a bacteria that commonly is found in women’s rectal, urinary, vaginal, and gastrointestinal areas. Indeed, according to Stanford Children’s Hospital, one in four adult women may carry group B strep at any time. Although group B step generally does not cause problems in women who are not pregnant, group B strep can cause complications during pregnancies, as women can pass the bacteria to infants during pregnancy and birth.

The Importance Of Prompt Diagnosis And Treatment

Medical professionals may need to act quickly to treat group B strep. Failing to diagnose and treat group B strep promptly can give rise to complications.

Unfortunately, group B strep infections can cause chorioamnionitis during pregnancies. Chorioamnionitis is an infection of the amniotic fluid, sac, and placenta, which can harm babies in the womb. Additionally, babies may be exposed to group B strep during birth and may sustain different kinds of infections (including meningitis, pneumonia, or sepsis) following birth. Thus, screening for and treating group B strep is important.

As Group B Step can cause complications during pregnancies, timely diagnosis, and treatment of group B strep is crucial. Generally, medical professionals screen pregnant women for group B strep in late pregnancy between the 35^th and 37^th weeks. When medical professionals diagnose group B strep, they can treat it before the baby is born and administer intravenous antibiotics, such as penicillin, to mothers during birth. Additionally, infants with group B strep exhibit symptoms shortly after birth. Just hours after birth, healthcare professionals can diagnose group B strep in infants by testing an infant’s blood or spinal fluid. Infants with group B strep may need care in the newborn intensive care unit and may require antibiotics.

Adverse Effects Of Group B Streptococcus

Group B Strep can cause various complications in infants, leading to permanent disabilities.

Group B strep infections during pregnancy can harm fetal brain development, and babies who get Group B Strep during pregnancy can be born with severe neurological damage.
Group B strep can lead to maternal urinary tract infections, which can cause premature labor and birth.
Group B strep can lead to the need for Cesarean delivery, which is more dangerous and requires longer recovery for the mother.
Group B strep can lead to pneumonia in infants.
Group B strep can cause sepsis.
Group B strep can cause meningitis, particularly in post-delivery infections.

Past History Of Group B Streptococcus

Pregnant women with a history of group B strep are more likely to experience group B strep in future pregnancies. Thus, medical professionals treating pregnant women should ask them about their medical history. Doctors should carefully monitor women with a history of group B strep for signs and symptoms of another infection.

Signs And Symptoms Of Group B Streptococcus In Pregnant Women

Pregnant women may have group B strep but not exhibit any symptoms, which is why proper medical care is crucial. Further, pregnant women with group B strep may experience the following signs and symptoms of the infection:

Frequent urination;
Pain while urinating;
Nausea and vomiting;
Fever;
Side pain;
Back pain;
Painful belly or uterus;
Rapid heart rate;
Early labor; and
Early membrane rupture.

Signs And Symptoms Of Group B Streptococcus In Babies

When a baby is born with a group B strep infection, healthcare professionals may need to diagnose the infection quickly and begin providing care. Signs of a group B strep infection in an infant may appear hours after birth. Indications of group B strep in infants within the first 24 hours after birth include signs of sepsis, pneumonia, meningitis, seizures, and general symptoms.

Signs of group B strep-induced sepsis include:

Fussiness;
Sleepiness; and
Breathing problems.

Signs of group B strep-caused pneumonia include:

Rapid breathing and
Grunting noises.

Additionally, convulsions indicate seizures, and infants with group B strep may exhibit blood pressure changes.

Infants who contract group B strep from their mothers at birth and suffer group B strep infections one or two weeks after birth show the following signs and symptoms:

Pain or limited mobility in a leg or arm;
Breathing difficulties;
Facial redness or all-over redness; and
Fever.

Group B Strep Medical Negligence And Malpractice

Physicians may be negligent or may have committed medical malpractice by:

Failing to diagnose group B Strep in a pregnant woman;
Failing to treat group B strep promptly after diagnosis;
Failing to administer the appropriate antibiotics;
Failing to diagnose group B strep in a newborn within the first twenty-four hours after birth;
Failing to diagnose group B strep in a newborn during the first few weeks after birth;
Failing to give a newborn with group B strep the correct antibiotics and care; or
Failing to treat sepsis, pneumonia, meningitis, and seizures in infants, which are associated with group B strep.

Contact Our Knowledgeable Cleveland Birth Injury Attorneys To Learn More

If your child has suffered a birth injury related to group B strep, consider consulting with a knowledgeable birth injury attorney to learn more about your child’s rights following the incident. Our Cleveland birth injury attorneys at The Eisen Law Firm advocate for the legal rights of children who suffer birth injuries. Call our office at 216-687-0900 or contact us online for a free consultation.