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Group B Strep Awareness Toolkit

July is Group B Strep Awareness Month
July 8-14 is Group B Strep Awareness Week
This year is the 25th year of July as International Group B Strep Awareness Month being observed. It was created to bring awareness of group B strep to the general public. Since then it has been a focal opportunity for organizations and individuals around the world to tell their stories, share information, and promote healthy outcomes for babies worldwide.
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Starting this year, we are introducing and we will be focusing our efforts on a dedicated Group B Strep Awareness Week, which will take place from 8-14 July this year and in future years too. Our goal with this change is to concentrate our efforts and maximize the impact of our awareness activities over a shorter period. We believe that by doing so, we can generate more focus and attention on group B strep, ultimately helping to spread the message more effectively, and reaching more families.
 
We deeply appreciate all the events and activities that have been planned, and we encourage everyone to continue their efforts during the entire month. Your dedication and commitment to raising awareness about group B Strep are invaluable, and we are grateful for your ongoing support. Together, we can continue to make a difference and ensure that the message about group B strep reaches as many people as possible.

Share so others can be aware

Tag us on Instagram and Twitter @groupBstrep
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Fast Facts
  • About 1 in 5 pregnant women worldwide "carry" or are "colonized" with group B strep
  • There are three types of perinatal GBS disease, each with their own prevention challenges:
      Prenatal-onset GBS disease (before birth)
      Early-onset GBS disease (birth through the first 6 days of life)
      Late-onset GBS disease  (7 days of age through 3 months of age; known as "ultra late-onset" GBS disease if after 3 months of age )
  • In the US, group B strep is the leading cause of newborn infection according to current guidelines
  • According to the World Health Organization, group B strep is a leading cause of neonatal and infant sepsis and meningitis globally
  • It is now the standard of care in many countries for all pregnant women to be routinely tested for GBS with a vaginal/rectal swab test during the 36th or 37th week of each pregnancy unless their urine already cultured positive in the current pregnancy
  • GBS colonization is transient which means that a woman could test negative, but be colonized later in pregnancy and vice versa
  • GBS is a fast-acting type of bacteria so it is imperative that everyone who takes care of your baby knows the signs of possible GBS infection in babies and how to respond.
Learn more on our FAQ page
Social Media
Instagram | Follow us @GroupBStrep
​Twitter |  Follow us @GroupBStrep
Facebook | Like us on Facebook, join our GBS group, or join our private GBS discussion group ​
Awareness Week GRaphics
Awareness Month Graphics
General GBS Graphics
SAmple Wording
July is #GroupBStrep Awareness Month! Not all babies exposed to GBS become infected, but for those who do, the results can be devasting. Spread awareness and help protect babies worldwide! gbs-info.org #GBSAM
Know the facts about group B strep and how to help protect your baby! gbs-info.org #GBSAW
Download the signs of GBS infection in babies to spread awareness with everyone who takes care of your baby! gbsi.me/GBSsigns #GBSAW
Did you know 1 in 5 pregnant women worldwide carry GBS? Don't play the odds - get tested! #GBSAW
Awareness Materials Campaign
Getting involved is easy! In just a few easy steps, you can help spread GBS awareness in your community! Too often we hear from parents that they wish they had known about GBS sooner. So we want to get GBS awareness materials into the hands of parents as soon as possible so they too can be aware. You can help!
  1. Shop free awareness materials on our website or download materials!
  2. Once you have your materials, share them with your community - whether that be a moms group, a local clinic, a hospital, or someone you know!
  3. Take a picture of your efforts and share it on social media! Be sure to tag @groupBstrep
Resources
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GBS Signs in Babies Poster
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Help Protect Your Baby from Group B Strep (GBS) Poster
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July Awareness Ribbon
For more awareness products, check out our awareness ribbons (wording available in a variety of languages)
​ or our online store​ 
Group B Streptococcus awareness month: vaccine and challenges underway.
Tatiana Castro Abreu Pinto, Laura Maria Andrade Oliveira, Natália Silva da Costa, et al. Published: July 27, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.07.056

Learn how you can organize a fundraiser for GBS awareness!
​Let's come together to spread GBS awareness! Funds raised by spreading awareness in your community go towards spreading awareness worldwide, so even a small project has a big impact. Social distancing? We even have fundraising ideas you can do without leaving the house! 
Test your knowledge of group B strep! 
Take our 10 question quiz and see how much you know about GBS! Share the quiz with a friend to help spread awareness of group B strep! 
Aayan's Voice: a sign of GBS meningitis | YouTube
Reagan's Voice: a sign of GBS meningitis | YouTube
GBS as a Cause of Preterm Labor & PPROM by Dr. David Aronoff | POGBSD Conference presentation
Membrane Stripping Information Statement | Document
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