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Group B Strep International: Fast Facts 

History:
Group B Strep International was formed in April 2006 by John MacDonald and Marti Perhach who each lost a daughter to group B strep (GBS). Both deaths were preventable, inspiring John and Marti to promote GBS awareness and prevention on a national level with a sister organization. Group B Strep International was then founded to expand the scope and the audience of this campaign worldwide.

Mission and Goal:
The mission of Group B Strep International (GBSI) is to promote international awareness and prevention of Group B Strep disease in babies before birth through early infancy. Our goal is to be a central resource for GBS information for both the general public and medical professionals. The scope of our mission includes actively supporting the GBS awareness and prevention efforts of individuals and organizations on a community or national level.

Current board of directors:
  • Marti Perhach – CEO with a B.S. in Business and Minor in Marketing; mother of Rose who was stillborn due to GBS
  • Dr. James A. McGregor – Infectious disease specialist and retired professor of Ob/Gyn at USC, UCLA, and the University of Colorado School of Medicine
  • Donna Russell, MHA – Global health consultant who cofounded Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS); mother to Nathaniel, GBS DIC survivor
  • Dr. Tara M. Randis – Pamela and Leslie Muma Chair in Neonatology at the University of South Florida Morsani School of Medicine
  • ​Prof. Tatiana Pinto – Mid-career microbiologist and Associate Professor of Microbiology at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Past board members:
  • Dr. David M. Aronoff – Director, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center during time served as board member
  • Josh Jones – CFO and entrepreneur who cofounded DreamHost; father to Wren who lived 11 hours due to GBS pneumonia
  • John MacDonald – Cofounder and father to Hannah, stillborn due to GBS
  • Dr. James C. Caillouette ~ Retired Ob/Gyn and developer of the Vagisil Screening Kit ®
  • Dr. Diep Nguyen – Ob/Gyn and developer of the kickTrakTM kick counting device

Current Projects:
Notable accomplishments:
  • Developed checklist approach to GBS prevention throughout pregnancy and early infancy; main materials include a comprehensive list of symptoms of GBS infection in babies
  • “Alabama GBS Awareness Campaign” – Partnered with Leah’s Legacy to distribute GBSI’s materials throughout Alabama via the Alabama Department of Public Health State Perinatal Division’s nurse managers

Online Learning Events hosted by GBSI:
Past Exhibits and Presentations:
  • Parent Voice presentation at the International Symposium on Streptococcus Agalactiae Disease (ISSAD) in 2023
  • Presenting and exhibiting at the 32nd ICM Virtual Trienniel Congress in 2021
  • Exhibited virtually at the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG) in 2020
  • Presented at the International Stillbirth Alliance (ISA) Madrid 2019 conference
  • Exhibited and presented at the Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM) Conference in 2018
  • Presented at the 1st International Symposium on Streptococcus Agalactiae Disease (ISSAD) in 2018
  • Exhibited at ICM 2017 Midwives Congress in 2017
  • Exhibited at the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018
  • Exhibited at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) in 2012
  • Presented and exhibited at the FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics in 2012 and 2015
  • Presented at the International Conference of Stillbirth, SIDS, and Infant Survival in 2012, 2016, and 2018 (exhibited in 2012)
  • Presented and exhibited at Star Legacy’s Stillbirth Summit in October 2011, June 2014, June 2017, and June 2019
  • Presented at the 2009 CDC GBS Guideline Revision Meeting; GBSI’s term “prenatal-onset GBS disease” was used on page 23 of the Nov. 19, 2010 MMWR 

Health Observance Months sponsored by GBSI:
Short-term goals:
  • Address misinformation about “alternative treatments” for GBS disease prevention
  • Continue promoting recognition of “prenatal-onset GBS disease”
 
Long-term goals:
  • Replicate our “Alabama GBS Awareness Campaign” throughout the US and targeted English-speaking countries
  • Translation of all materials and pertinent website content into Spanish
  • Promote implementation of active surveillance for prenatal-onset GBS disease
  • Collaborate with departments of health to ensure that fetal death records are updated with autopsy and pathology testing results
  • Promote research to identify prenatal-onset GBS disease prevention strategies

Attaining goals by:
  • Utilizing talents of GBS parents and concerned providers
  • Promoting recognition of GBS and other infection-caused stillbirths in stillbirth prevention circles
  • Forming stronger social media connections
  • Exhibiting and presenting at perinatal conferences worldwide
  • Hosting online conferences
 
Grants received:
  • Novartis Vaccines Educational Grants
  • Hologic
  • Google Ad Grants
  • Cepheid
 
Funding:
General funding is received primarily through donations from family and friends of GBS-affected babies in the form of direct donations, through GBSI’s campaign platform, and through parent-organized fundraisers such as bike rides and awareness walks. GBSI’s online conference are also funded through corporate and parent sponsorships.

GBSI is incorporated in the State of California and recognized as a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization, EIN #20-5483622. Annual tax returns are available on Guidestar.
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Please  contact GBSI at [email protected] for more info