NHS urged to do more to help infected babies

The NHS is being urged to do more to identify newborns at risk of life-threatening infection.

Around 500 babies a year in England and Wales suffer from early-onset infection within 48 hours of birth.

The infection kills more than one in four infants who develop it and is usually caused by germs passed on by the mother during birth.

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These include group B Streptococcus (the most common type of infection), E.coli, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella.

Around a third of women harmlessly carry group B Strep and most do not have any symptoms.

Around half of babies born to mothers carrying group B Strep pick up the organism in the womb or during delivery, but only about 1 per cent to 2 per cent will go on to develop serious symptoms.

Those that do can suffer problems including meningitis and pneumonia, developmental issues and damage to their brains.

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At present, pregnant women are not routinely tested for group B strep although those babies identified as high risk can be treated with antibiotics before they are born or shortly after delivery.

High-risk women include those who have given birth to a previous baby with a strep B infection, if strep B is found during tests carried out for other purposes, women in premature labour and those that have a high temperature during labour.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) has published a guideline for consultation on identifying and treating newborns with infection within 72 hours of birth.

Areas covered include how to recognise signs and symptoms of infection, including serious “red flags”.

The guideline also sets out when antibiotics should be given and how often, when babies should be monitored and the information and support that should be provided to parents.

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