Support GBS Awareness

Group B strep is a big deal!

Approximately 1 in 4 pregnant women carry GBS, the leading cause of sepsis and meningitis in newborns according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). GBS can also infect babies during pregnancy and the first few months of life.

Not all babies exposed to GBS become infected, but, for those who do, the results can be devastating. GBS can cause babies to be miscarried, stillborn, born prematurely, become very sick, have lifelong handicaps, or die.  Even babies born to moms who test negative can become infected by group B strep.
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Fortunately there are many ways to help protect babies from group B strep  (στα Ελληνικά)  (en español). This website contains resources for you to learn more about GBS and help prevent its devastating effects.

Special thanks to Aayan’s mother for sharing
her son’s voice making the grunting sounds
​ which are a common, ​yet often unrecognized, symptom of GBS meningitis:

What We Do

  • Provide complimentary GBS awareness info and materials
  • Exhibit and present at conferences worldwide​
  • Advocate to close the gaps in GBS care for ALL babies​

What You Should Know

Each of the three distinct time periods when GBS can infect babies has its own prevention challenges and strategies.

How You Can Help 

From sharing a brochure with a pregnant friend to starting an awareness campaign with your department of health, there are many ways to help!

GBSI's Upcoming Events
May 2017

May 22-24 ~ GBSI will be exhibiting at the American College of Nurse-Midwives 62nd Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Chicago, Illinois! We always enjoy sharing GBS info with this enthusiastic group of professionals who are committed to providing excellence in health services to their patients.  

June 2017

​June 18-22 ~ GBSI will be exhibiting at the 31st ICM Triennial Congress in Toronto, Canada! This will be our first time exhibiting at this congress which represents and works to strengthen professional associations of midwives throughout the world. What an excellent opportunity to speak with attendees from 116 midwifery associations, representing 102 countries across every continent!

June 21-23 ~ GBSI board member Dr. James A McGregor – infectious disease specialist and retired OBGYN – will be presenting at the Stillbirth Summit 2017 . His topics include: “LESS BABY TORCHEZ, Behavioral Prevention of Congenital Infections,” presented on the 21st, and “Fathers’ Roles in Optimizing Reproductive Outcomes,” date/time to be announced.
GBSI will also be presenting three posters:

“How Do Microorganisms Gain Access into the Upper Reproductive Tract?”
Logic Model-Informed Preconception Care Package for the Los Angeles to Increase Pregnancy Health and Reduce Risks of Reproductive Losses and Morbidities”
Collaborative Creation of ‘WASH HANDS’ Learning Aide for Primary Prevention of CMV Infection during Pregnancy and Childcare.”​​
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This summit is the premier event focused on stillbirth research and prevention! Join internationally acclaimed researchers from around the world who share our passion for preventing these tragedies. Please view their brochure by clicking here.

July 2017

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​July is international Group B Strep awareness month! Find out ways you can help bring awareness within your community and download our July ribbon logo, awareness poster, and website banner here.

Be a part of sharing GBS information with providers worldwide!
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GBSI will be sharing GBS information along with samples of our complimentary materials at:

  1) Booth 510 at the ACNM conference in Chicago, Illinois from May 22-24, 2017
  2) Table 8 at the ICM conference in Toronto, Canada from June 19-23, 2017, and
  3) a display table at the Stillbirth Summit in Minneapolis, MN from June 22-24, 2017

$100 covers the printing of our three posters for the Stillbirth Summit
$200 covers the rental of the popup display backdrop at ACNM
$200 covers ground transportation from the airports for all three conferences
$250 covers the display table cost at the Stillbirth Summit
$450 covers 2000+ "no membrane stripping" buttons for all three conferences
$500 covers our materials and display graphics being shipped to all three conferences

​GBS Efforts and News around the World!

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Special thanks to GBS mom, Amanda Caldwell, for sharing her family's GBS journey! Read their very special story and watch their video on ABC7NY.com by clicking here.

MinervaX announces positive results from Phase I trial in 240 healthy adult women with its innovative Group B Streptococcal (GBS) vaccine to  prevent life-threatening infections in newborns. Click here for their press release.​​

UK mum, Kim Poulton, is petitioning for GBS screening to be routine for all pregnant women in the UK. Please read, share, and sign.​​

Our past events can be viewed in our Event Archive.  Please see all we’ve accomplished with your support!

Upcoming Projects and Campaigns 
Birthday & Angelversary events to promote GBS awareness

​Donations
As a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, we rely on your donations to enable us to create and distribute GBS awareness materials. Please help save babies and their families from the devastation of GBS disease!