Group B Strep creates substantial challenges when it impacts a newborn.A newborn affected by a group b streptococcus infection is at considerable risk of severe complications and even death. The difficulty is that there is a substantial possibility that the infection may turn septic, produce pneumonia, or even develop into meningitis - each of which present a very serious condition for a infant. Given the risks a group b streptococcus infection presents to infants doctors normally acknowledge that it is crucial to minimize the probability that the infection will be transmitted to the baby from a mother who carries, or has any of the risk factors, for the bacteria.
There are thus some circumstances which doctors take into account when figuring out whether there is an increased risk that the expectant mother will transmit the bacteria to her newborn. The mother was Group B Strep positive in a previous pregnancy. Routine screening between weeks 35 and 37 of the pregnancy disclosed the existence of the bacteria. One of the factors that put a pregnant woman at risk for Group B Streptococcus is when her membranes rupture more than 18 hours before labor. When a physician is aware of a known history or the existence of any of the risk factors and does not use antibiotics and the newborn afterwards acquires a Group b strep infection and experiences severe harm because of this, the physician might be liable for failing to meet the standard of care.
In this lawsuit a 19 year old pregnant woman was admitted to the hospital before full term. While at the hospital her baby was delivered. It was known by the doctor who delivered the baby that the woman had suffered a rupture of her membranes beyond eighteen hours preceding the start of labor. However even though the fact that this put the woman at risk of a group b streptococcus infection the doctor did not administer antibiotics for GBS. Once birth her newborn was depressed and required resuscitation. The resuscitation measures were effective and the medical providers became aware that the complications were because of a GBS infection. Regrettably, the child died of additional infection related complications 2 days after being born. The mother went forward with a claim and the law firm that represented her reported that after trial a jury awarded the mother $457,000 for her loss.
Like this case illustrates not administering appropriate antibiotics in the course of labor for an expectant mother whose membranes ruptured more than 18 hours before might result in the transmission of group b strep to her newborn. The implications may be tragic. The infant might suffer irreversible injuries or, as in the lawsuit above, might not live. Not administering antibiotics during labor in a case where there is a danger that the mother could transmit the group b streptococcus bacteria to her baby may amount to medical negligence.
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