Mutant group B strep strains may explain infections in newborns

Mutant group B strep strains may explain infections in newborns

A new study could explain why some mothers can still pass Group B Streptococcus, or GBS, to their babies after childbirth even when they're treated with antibiotics. A Michigan State University research team discovered postpartum GBS strains with mutations that allow them to survive in the birth canal and resist treatment. These strains can infect newborns and infants and cause dangerous illnesses like pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis.