Group B Strep Surveillance and Trends

Key points

  • CDC conducts active surveillance for invasive group B Streptococcus (group B strep, GBS) disease.
  • Invasive disease refers to when bacteria invade parts of the body, like blood, that are normally free from germs.
  • GBS bacteria remain a leading cause of meningitis and bloodstream infections in newborns younger than 3 months old.
Drawing of a germ and microscope, with graphs behind.

Data systems

GBS disease is not reportable in most states.

Active Bacterial Core surveillance

CDC conducts active surveillance for invasive GBS disease through Active Bacterial Core surveillance (ABCs). ABCs is part of CDC's Emerging Infections Program.

Keep Reading: Active Bacterial Core surveillance (ABCs)

Bact Facts Interactive‎

You can analyze and visualize ABCs GBS data.
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How the data are interpreted

GBS bacteria emerged in the 1970s as the most common cause of sepsis in newborns. More recently, experts recognized the increasing impact invasive GBS disease has on adults.

Disease burden

Approximately 28,010 cases of invasive GBS disease occur annually in the United States in all age groups.

GBS bacteria remain a leading cause of meningitis and bloodstream infections in newborns younger than 3 months old.

Disease trends

As use of intrapartum prophylaxis increased, GBS disease declined by 80% in babies younger than one week old:

  • Infection rate in 1993: 1.7 cases per 1,000 live births
  • Infection rate in 2020: 0.2 cases per 1,000 live births
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Graph showing a steep decline in early-onset GBS disease rate.
The rate of early-onset GBS disease decreased dramatically.

Data reporting

View ABCs annual reports for GBS disease.

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Content Source:
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; Division of Bacterial Diseases