There are three types of GBS disease (prenatal-onset, early-onset, and late-onset) but prenatal-onset is often overlooked or not recognized, which minimizes the potential of GBS to cause thousands of babies to be miscarried, stillborn, or born already sick each year due to being infected by GBS in the womb.
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Research Opportunity for Parents and Caregivers in the UK
This study would like to hear from UK parents and caregivers whose babies have experienced a late Group B Strep infection in the past 5 years, to design a programme of research to support other families. They are especially interested in hearing from the families of Black and Asian babies and offer reimbursement for your time. If you’d be interested in joining an online workshop, please access the following link: https://tinyurl.com/bhn2rf9v or email: [email protected] |
8th Annual Reagan’s Ride
Special thanks to Amanda and Brandon Caldwell and the many people who helped them raise GBS awareness and over $2000 for GBSI at the 8th Annual Reagan’s Ride on August 24th, bringing the total raised by Reagan’s Rides to over $32,000 for the past 8 years! Over 80 people and 45 bikes came out to support the cause this year in honor of Reagan Caldwell, GBS meningitis survivor. Special recognition and gratitude to Down Range Riders, Blood and Steel chapter for doing such an incredible job with this event year after year as well as to Toby’s Tents for their ongoing support. Thank you to Bouncing around Rentals for donating a bounce house to add to the fun of this event! We are grateful to all who participated to help save lives and heartache for families! Reagan's story |
Group B Strep Awareness Month (GBSAM) is an opportunity for organizations and individuals around the world to tell their stories, share information, and promote healthy outcomes for babies worldwide. This year we want to focus on stories from GBS families worldwide. These stories matter and highlight the need for GBS awareness and prevention. Keep an eye out for these interactive stories by following us on social media.
Want to get involved? Check out our toolkit! |
Dear Scientist, Group B Streptococcus severely impacted my son’s development. Can prevention for newborns be improved? | Full Article
“Even if one person would benefit from it, it would definitely be worth it because I would never want what happened with our son to happen to anybody else’s child,” Kelsey says. “It’s comforting to know that there are people out there striving to make sure that it doesn’t.” |
We are pleased to announce that GBS Research Connect is here! Join this collaborative to connect with fellow researchers, healthcare professionals, and health advocates!
Membership is free and includes access to events, the ability to join forums, collaborate, upload your research, explore blogs, and more! |
Registration, both virtual and in-person is now open for the ISSAD Global Conference on Group B Strep. ISSAD2023 will bring together global stakeholders to accelerate the process to improve GBS maternal & newborn survival & prevent stillbirths. Visit issad.org for more info! | ISSAD2023
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There are three types of GBS disease (prenatal-onset, early-onset, and late-onset) but prenatal-onset is often overlooked or not recognized, which minimizes the potential of GBS to cause thousands of babies to be miscarried, stillborn, or born already sick each year due to being infected by GBS in the womb.
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The IMPRINT network produced this animation resource explaining Group B Strep vaccines aimed at a general audience. They will also be translating the video into other languages available in 2023. For more IMPRINT GBS videos please visit imprint-network.co.uk/videos.
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7th Annual Reagan’s Ride – Special thanks to Amanda and Brandon Caldwell and the many people who helped them raise GBS awareness and over $4600 for GBSI at the 7th Annual Reagan’s Ride on August 26th, bringing the total raised by Reagan’s Rides to over $30,000 for the past 7 years!
Over 100 people and 60 bikes came out to support the cause this year in honor of Reagan Caldwell, GBS meningitis survivor. Thank you to Down Range for doing such an incredible job with this event year after year as well as to Timeless Tavern, Toby’s Tents, and Kyle Cetnar for his donation of a bounce house, and for their ongoing support of this event. Special recognition and thanks to the Grupp Family for their very generous donation! |
GBS Community Days 2023, July 11-13! Our goal is to exponentially further the knowledge of group B strep to healthcare providers, researchers, and families alike through the power of the GBS community.
We have educational videos from researchers, interactive learning opportunities, and GBS parents sharing their lived experiences. |
July is International Group B Strep Awareness Month, It is a focal opportunity for organizations and individuals around the world to tell their stories, share information, and promote healthy outcomes for babies worldwide. Check out our toolkit!
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'He had gone in minutes' - Couple whose baby died from Strep B call for pregnancy screenings
ITV News They told ITV News Central: "Obviously had I had screening for it, none of this would've happened, he would still be here today." Currently, there is no routine screening during pregnancy for Strep B in the UK, unlike in many other countries. |
There are three types of GBS disease (prenatal-onset, early-onset, and late-onset) but prenatal-onset is often overlooked or not recognized, which minimizes the potential of GBS to cause thousands of babies to be miscarried, stillborn, or born already sick each year due to being infected by GBS in the womb.
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CAPPA Conference 2022 - Register for CAPPA Conference 2022 in Niagara Falls on September 30 - October 2, 2022 for a weekend of workshops and networking opportunities with doulas and educators!
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The International Conference on Group B Strep 2022Join us for the International Conference on Group B Strep (ICGBS) 2022: Community Week! It is a time dedicated to sharing GBS information among parents, perinatal healthcare professionals, laboratorians, researchers, and other advocates committed to preventing GBS disease in babies.
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Each year, the PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy Stillbirth Prevention Symposium brings together medical professionals, stillbirth advocates, and families who have experienced loss in an effort to increase education and understanding of how to drive down stillbirth rates and #endpreventablestillbirth. | Stillbirth Symposium
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The Word Health Organization recently released, "Group B Streptococcus Vaccine: full value vaccine assessment" describing the global public health rationale for developing vaccines against disease caused by GBS for maternal immunization.
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There are three types of GBS disease (prenatal-onset, early-onset, and late-onset) but prenatal-onset is often overlooked or not recognized, which minimizes the potential of GBS to cause thousands of babies to be miscarried, stillborn, or born already sick each year due to being infected by GBS in the womb.
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ICGBS 2021 took place July 20-22, 2021, giving people the opportunity to learn from the experts on group B Strep. Presentations were uploaded daily for ease of viewing across multiple time zones. Topics included GBS in breast milk, the significance of GBS in urine during pregnancy, ongoing research, and more!
Visit our Sponsors: Hologic® | Cepheid® | LabReady® |
April is National Minority Health Month. The goal of this month is to focus on and address health disparities that continue to affect racial and ethnic minority populations.
For example, according to the CDC, the rate of early-onset group B strep infections demonstrates a racial disparity, as the disease persists with the incidence higher among African Americans |
Announcing ICGBS2021!!! The International Conference on Group B Strep (ICGBS) 2021 is an online collaboration of healthcare professionals, laboratorians, researchers, families, policy makers, and other interested individuals working to increase GBS disease awareness and prevention. Join us as we work to reduce the burden of group B strep disease worldwide with Keynote Speaker, Joy Lawn! Join us July 20-22, 2021! Registration is free!
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#GivingTuesday is December 1st! We ask that you consider giving your time to complete the WAVES Study to help determine the gaps in GBS care and communication.
Group B Strep International is conducting a survey of mothers worldwide (with and without a baby infected by group B strep) to help identify the gaps in care and communication of group B strep (GBS) disease in babies. GBS is a leading cause of meningitis and sepsis in babies worldwide and can harm babies during pregnancy through several months of age. |
December 15, 2020 Press Release: MinervaX raises upsized EUR 47.4M (USD 57M) Series B to advance its novel Group B Streptococcus vaccine through mid-stage clinical trials |
There are three types of GBS disease but prenatal-onset is often overlooked or not recognized, which discounts the thousands of women who have lost their child or their baby was born already sick because the baby was infected by GBS in the womb. We want to make sure that prenatal-onset is recognized and that more women and health care professionals become involved.
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This October we are launching the WAVES Study! If you’ve had a baby (with or without group B strep disease) conceived on or after January 1, 2003, we want to hear from you! Help prevent future babies from becoming infected by helping identify gaps in care and communication surrounding GBS! Remember to share the link with friends and family so we can all wave goodbye to group B strep disease in babies! gbs-intl.org/waves
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August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month! Is it safe to breastfeed is you're GBS positive? It is speculated that a few late-onset and recurrent GBS infections are associated with infected breast milk. It is currently thought that the health benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risk of exposure to GBS
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July is International GBS Awareness Month!
This year's theme is #2020Foresight. Consider donating or planning a fundraiser from your home to support GBS awareness! While hindsight is 2020, imagine the difference that could be made if foresight was 2020, as well. Awareness is the key to making that happen.
We consistently hear that parents were not aware of GBS until their baby was harmed. They were blindsided and had to scramble to learn about GBS. If parents have awareness of GBS from the beginning, better pregnancy outcomes may be possible. We want people to come together to spread awareness so instead of thinking back on "what could've been," they can visualize "what can be." To do this we want to encourage GBS testing and awareness of the signs of infection! Awareness is the first step towards prevention! #2020Foresight |
July 20-22, 2020 hosted the online International Conference on Group B Strep (ICGBS) 2020!
GBS expert and pediatrician, Dr. Carol J. Baker, presented her Keynote talk "GBS: Past, Present, and Future" as well as "Signs of GBS Disease: Eyes and Ears" geared towards parents to help them recognize the signs of infection in their babies. |
Elsie Williams died in her mum’s arms at just eight days old (Image: Sunday Mirror) “In Elsie’s memory we want to tell our story to warn other parents about the signs and symptoms of this horrific illness, so they can buy a test themselves if they’re worried, but more importantly I want to start a change to get a nationwide screening programme started. Elsie was far from the first, and I know she’ll be far from the last baby to die because the UK government simply isn’t listening.”
Elsie's Story via Mirror |
Heather Bryan, who lost her son Finnegan to group B strep, is donating a portion of the sales of the beautiful leather bag she designed in his name to GBSI.
Heather Bryan's Bags |
“Hilleman Labs has embarked on a project to develop a safe, effective and affordable vaccine against Group B Streptococcus. In this project, we will design, assemble and test the vaccine within our R&D centre in India.”
Vaccine Effort |
Newborn Needs Life-Saving Surgery After Contracting Meningitis
Laura Robinson rushed her daughter, Faith, to the hospital where she diagnosis was Group B Strep, which led to her contracting meningitis. Read Laura & Faith's story via Babygaga |
Bethany Davies, 26, passed on infection to daughter Elsie during birth last May. She is now calling for group B strep screening to be offered to pregnant women. Elsie was born unable to breathe and rushed to ICU where she spent two weeks
Bethany Davies Story via DailyMail |
July 23-25, 2019 we hosted the International Conference on Group B Strep (ICGBS). We viewed and discussed presentations on various aspects of GBS. It's a virtual collaboration of health care professionals, researchers, families, and other interested individuals working to increase awareness of GBS disease.
Thank you to our Diamond Sponsor
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UK Health Minister Nadine Dorries has announced group B Strep prevention as top of her 5 key priorities on taking office.
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GBSI will be shared the following presentations at the 2019 Stillbirth Summit!
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The Prenatal Infection Prevention Symposium (PIPS) is a virtual collaboration of health care professionals, researchers, families, and other interested individuals working towards minimizing the burden of miscarriages, stillbirths, preterm births and babies sick at birth due to prenatal infection.
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Find more February resources here!
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Prenatal Infection Prevention Symposium
February 25-28, 2019 Group B Strep International, in partnership with Star Legacy Foundation, is hosting the Prenatal Infection Prevention Symposium! All are invited to attend, CME credit will be available, and registration is free! For more information, please visit gbsi.me/PIPS |
October 15-25 Group B Strep International, in partnership with Star Legacy Foundation, is hosting the 1st Annual Virtual Symposium on POGBSD! All are invited to attend and registration is free! For more information, please visit gbsi.me/POGBSDvs |
GBSI will be presenting posters on the following GBS topics at ISSAD:
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February is International PrenatalInfection Prevention Month!
Check out our daily video page where we will also be posting A-Z tips on how to help protect your unborn baby! #PreventPrenatalInfections #ProtectYourUnbornBaby #ShareCareAndBeAware |
Click HERE to check out our poster and handout about prenatal infections and healthy behaviors
to help keep your unborn baby safe! |
Get ready to share, care, and be aware in the month of February!
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To view our campaign posts and tweets, follow us on:
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or join our Facebook Groups Page.
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Most medical literature mentions only two types of GBS disease: early-onset and late-onset. However, GBS can also infect babies DURING pregnancy. Please click HERE to read about knowledge-based strategies to help protect unborn babies from group B strep. |
Thank you to Reagans' family and friends for raising $1660 to help prevent GBS infections in other babies!
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This fundraiser will be held in Broadalbin, New York. If you are in the area, please join them for a fun day raising GBS awareness!
Click HERE to learn more about Reagan's experience with GBS meningitis. |
Special thanks to Amanda for sharing her family's GBS journey! Read their very special story and watch their video on ABC7NY.com by clicking here. |
If you are involved in maternity or neonatal care, a group of clinicians would be very grateful if you could spare a few minutes to take this survey so that they can gather data on Group B strep screening and treatment around the world. Please share! Survey closes March 3rd.
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October is Prenatal-onset GBS Disease Recognition Month! Please visit and share our prenatal-onset GBS disease resource page which covers knowledge-based strategies to help protect babies from GBS BEFORE birth.
Join our Twibbon campaign and show your support by adding the GBS awareness ribbon to your profile picture… …and tweet #PrenatalonsetGBSDiseaseHappens to bring awareness to prenatal-onset GBS infections! We’re @GroupBStrep.
All of our materials are complimentary and can be ordered or downloaded here. GBSI’s brochures and tear sheets have patient information to help prevent GBS disease before birth through early infancy. Please see the sections, “How can I help protect my baby during pregnancy?” for knowledge-based strategies to help protect babies from prenatal-onset GBS disease. October 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day recognized by a worldwide lighting of candles at 7PM local time. |
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July has been designated as International Group B Strep Awareness Month on the US National Health Observance Calendar and is observed in many countries around the world. Visit our page on how you can help create GBS awareness in your community!
Special thanks to the European Medical Journal for designing info graphics to promote GBS awareness this month and year around. Please click here to view and share them on your social media! Our July awareness ribbon logo is downloadable here in English, Spanish, or Greek – perfect for your social media profile picture – and our GBS website banner is downloadable here! Use #InternationalGBSAwareness to spread the word! |
International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month: This health observance month is sponsored by GBSI on the US National Health Observance Calendar as well as other health observance calendars around the world.
Many types of infections can be prevented with healthy pregnancy behaviors. Use the word “HYGIENE” to make these behaviors routine! |
October is Prenatal-onset GBS Disease Recognition Month! Until recently, only early-onset (birth to 1 week of age) and late-onset (1 week +) GBS disease has been recognized, but GBS can infect babies throughout pregnancy. Please visit and share our prenatal-onset GBS disease resource page.
Use #RecognizePOGBS to help protect babies before birth! |
July is International Group B Strep Awareness Month! Visit our page on how you can help create GBS awareness in your community!Use #InternationalGBSAwareness to spread the word! Thank you to all those who have tweeted about GBSI @GroupBStrep
July 11~ GBS moms Bevin Tomlin, Brianne Harrison, Megan Sheehy, Alicia Cassady, and Kylie Vinsant will be in Mobile, AL on their exhibit tour with Babypalooza! Leah’s Legacy is partnering with GBSI to distribute GBS awareness and prevention materials across the states of Alabama and Mississippi! Please click here for more info! |
Join the Campaign against GBS Disease in babies! |
CONNECT TO GBSI |