Types of Infection

Bacteria called group B Streptococcus (group B strep, GBS) can cause many types of infections. Some of these infections can be life threatening.

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Bacteremia

A bloodstream infection

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Bone and joint infections
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Urinary tract infections

An infection of the urinary tract

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Pneumonia

A lung infection

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Skin and soft tissue infections

Most common infections

GBS bacteria most commonly cause bacteremia, sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis in newborns. It is very uncommon for GBS bacteria to cause meningitis in adults.

Some of these infections are “invasive.” Invasive disease means that germs invade parts of the body that are normally free from germs. When this happens, disease is usually very severe, requiring care in a hospital and even causing death in some cases.