Group B streptococcus (GBS) can pose a significant risk of injury to pregnant mothers and new-born babies. If you or your child has suffered from a group B strep infection due to medical negligence, contact our medical negligence specialists today.
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a common bacteria found in both men and women, affecting around three out of ten women. In the majority of cases, the bacteria is harmless to healthy adults, but if passed on by a pregnant mother to her unborn baby, GBS infection has the potential to be dangerous.
It is the most common cause of life-threatening infection in new-born babies in the UK, and of meningitis in babies under three months old.
GBS bacteria can be passed from a mother to a baby during labour and birth. In the UK and Ireland, on average, approximately 66 babies are diagnosed with GBS infection every month. Of these, 56 babies make a full recovery, while six survive with long-term physical or mental disabilities and four tragically die. In rare circumstances, group B strep can also cause infection in the womb before a baby is born, which can then cause a baby to be stillborn.
What are the risks of a group B strep infection in expecting mothers?
Most expecting mothers who are carriers of GBS will show no symptoms of infection, though there are those who do. In these cases, the following symptoms can occur:
Sepsis
Infections of the skin or soft tissue
Infection of bones or joints
Pneumonia
Urinary tract infection
If an expecting mother shows any of the above symptoms, they should be tested to find out the cause of the infection, which will include tests for GBS among others.
Currently, the NHS doesn’t routinely test all pregnant women for GBS. Still, when the relevant tests aren’t carried out in instances where an expecting mother is displaying these symptoms, they could be found to be in breach of their duty of care.
What are the risks of a group B strep infection in new-born babies?
Most babies who develop a GBS infection during birth become unwell in the first week of their life. Although less common, a late-onset GBS infection can affect babies up until they’re three months old. Babies suffering from a GBS infection may suffer from the following symptoms:
Signs they are struggling to breathe (grunting, noisy breathing)
Being very sleepy and/or unresponsive
Crying inconsolably
Unusually floppy
Not feeding well or keeping milk down
High or low temperature and/or their skin feels too hot or cold to the touch
Changes in their skin colour
Abnormally fast or slow heart rate
Low blood pressure
Low blood sugar
When a baby is displaying these symptoms, urgent medical advice should be sought as early diagnosis and GBS treatment is key.
When is contracting group B strep considered medical negligence?
As group B strep is a common bacteria, it is possible that infections develop despite the best care possible. However, if mistakes have been made and protocols have not been followed by medical professionals, which in turn leads to the development of a GBS infection, you may be entitled to make a group B strep claim.
Mistakes that can be considered medical negligence include:
Failing to identify the symptoms of GBS
Failing to properly manage the symptoms of GBS
A delay in treating a GBS infection
Failing to follow standard procedures
While routine testing for GBS infection is not currently offered by the NHS, there are some circumstances in which you should be offered a test. For instance, if an infection was detected during a previous pregnancy, there is a 50% chance you will be carrying a GBS infection in your next pregnancy.
What’s more, to prevent the effects of GBS infection on unborn babies, guidance published by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 2017 confirmed that medical staff should recommend antibiotics for a woman during labour in the following circumstances:
Labour is premature, before 37 weeks of pregnancy
A fever of 38 degrees C or higher is present during labour
A positive GBS swab was obtained, or a known GBS urinary tract infection was diagnosed during pregnancy
A baby was born previously to the patient with GBS infection
If a mother falls into one of these categories, and antibiotics aren’t offered, this could be classed as medical negligence.
It has been a difficult journey recollecting the events of my son's birth, however, we have never felt alone. Jodie kept us well informed and was very efficient at answering any questions, concerns, or general worries. There are no words that can express how grateful are. Knowing he is going to be able to have the right equipment and support to live his life to his fullest potential just puts us at ease, and is such a relief.
Client testimonial for Jodie Cook
I can't thank you enough for all your hard work. The excellent result means that my child’s future is now secure and I know that she will have the best care and therapy to make sure that she has the best life that she possibly can which means so much to me.
Client testimonial (for Yvonne Agnew)
We would like to say a big thank you to you personally for doing everything possible to get justice for our son. We feel very privileged to have you on our side and fighting for him, and for us. We appreciate his case is quite a complex one, but you haven't given up on us and you've been in our corner all the way. We're so grateful to you all for everything you've done and are continuing to do.
Client testimonial (for Emma Doughty)
If you or your baby have been affected by GBS infection and you believe that the care or treatment that you received may have been substandard, our specialist medical negligence team are here to help you achieve the compensation you deserve.
We understand that dealing with the consequences of group B strep negligence can be distressing, and we’re here to support you throughout the legal process whenever you are ready to take the first step to making a claim. We’ll take it one step at a time, at your own pace.
To find out if you have a claim, and to discuss your case in more detail, contact our medical negligence team for a free, no-obligation conversation.
How can making a group B strep claim support my family?
If you are suffering as a result of group B strep negligence, claiming compensation can be the last thing on your mind. However, the consequences of such negligence can be life-changing, and a group B strep claim could help to support you and your family financially. This could include any treatment or rehabilitation, including therapy and counselling.
It can also go further than this by providing the opportunity to learn what went wrong with your treatment and why, as well as helping to highlight issues and preventing the same mistakes from happening again.
Why should I choose Slater and Gordon?
At Slater and Gordon, our expert medical negligence team is one of the best in the country, and our solicitors have many years’ experience in handling a range of cases, from the straightforward to the complex. We know the impact that group B strep negligence can have, and are proud to be partners with Group B Strep Support (GBSS), the world’s leading charity working to eradicate group B Strep infection in babies.
Our industry-leading team are consistently ranked highly in independent legal directories, such as Chambers and Partners, and the Legal 500, and are proud to have helped numerous clients achieve the compensation they deserve. As well as expert lawyers specialising in the field of medical negligence, we also have trained nurses and midwives on our team with the knowledge and expertise to provide the best service possible for our clients. As part of our service, we offer both home and hospital visits and can provide immediate representation and rehabilitation support.
If you or your baby have suffered in any way from GBS infection due to negligent medical care, our experts are here to help you with sensitivity and compassion, and will fight for the compensation that you deserve.
How long do I have to start a group B strep claim?
A group B strep claim must usually be made within three years of the date you contracted the infection, or from the date you first became aware of the infection.
There are, however, certain circumstances that may impact this deadline, so we encourage you to reach out to a specialist medical negligence solicitor as soon as you feel you are able to, as they will be able to provide more detail on any deadlines that are relevant to your case.
How long will my group B strep claim take to settle?
Every group B strep claim is different, so it can be difficult to determine how long the process will take. The timeline can be influenced by a number of factors, including the severity of the injuries caused by the infection and how quickly we can establish liability.
In general, more complex cases will take longer to settle, so we strongly advise that you reach out to a specialist medical negligence solicitor as soon as you feel able, as they will be able to offer more guidance to ensure your claim is handled quickly and efficiently.
Can I make a No Win No Fee group B strep claim?
Our experts know that many people are concerned about the costs of working with a specialist medical negligence lawyer. However, with Slater and Gordon your group B strep claim can be funded by a No Win No Fee agreement. This allows you to bring a medical negligence claim at no financial risk.
It has been a difficult journey recollecting the events of my son's birth, however, we have never felt alone. Jodie kept us well informed and was very efficient at answering any questions, concerns, or general worries. There are no words that can express how grateful are. Knowing he is going to be able to have the right equipment and support to live his life to his fullest potential just puts us at ease, and is such a relief. Client testimonial for Jodie Cook
I can't thank you enough for all your hard work. The excellent result means that my child’s future is now secure and I know that she will have the best care and therapy to make sure that she has the best life that she possibly can which means so much to me. Client testimonial (for Yvonne Agnew)
We would like to say a big thank you to you personally for doing everything possible to get justice for our son. We feel very privileged to have you on our side and fighting for him, and for us. We appreciate his case is quite a complex one, but you haven't given up on us and you've been in our corner all the way. We're so grateful to you all for everything you've done and are continuing to do. Client testimonial (for Emma Doughty)