Baby Dies Due To Group B Strept Infection Because Doctor Did Not Administer Antibiotics

If a newborn contracts an infection from the group b strep bacteria there is a very substantial risk to the infant's condition that results

. It may also result in the death of the infant. Newborns who survive can be left with life-long disabilities including cerebral palsy. The infection may abruptly develop into pneumonia, sepsis (an infection that spreads throughout the body), and meningitis. Doctors realize that a pregnant woman carrying the bacteria can transfer it to her infant during childbirth.

Given the risks associated with the bacteria in an infant doctors thus generally treat expectant mothers who are either known or suspected of carrying the bacteria with antibiotics during labor.

The factors doctors typically take into consideration in deciding whether to administer antibiotics while the mother is in labor are as follow. The mother was positive for the bacteria in a previous pregnancy. Standard screening between weeks thirty-five and thirty-seven of the pregnancy disclosed the existence of the bacteria. Doctors also generally agree that the antibiotics be administered in the course of labor when the expectant mother presents any of the risk factors for carrying the bacteria. The kind of risk factor is the rupture of the expectant mother's membranes at least 18 hours prior to labor. In case a doctor is aware of a known history or the existence of any of the risk factors but does not administer antibiotics and the newborn later develops a group b strep infection and suffers significant harm due to this fact, the physician might be liable for failing to meet the standard of care.

Consider the report of a lawsuit concerning a nineteen year old woman who, before reaching full term, was admitted to a hospital to deliver to her baby. The expectant mother had experienced a membrane rupture over 18 hours prior to entering labor. Her physician knew this. Yet notwithstanding this put the woman at risk of the infection the physician did not administer antibiotics for Group b strep.

Following birth, the baby was not breathing. The staff resuscitated the child and eventually concluded that the problem had been the result of the infection. The baby died 2 days later from infection related complications. The law firm that took this matter on for the baby's mother announced that the case was tried and a jury awarded the mother $457,000.

This lawsuit exhibits that a group b streptococcus infection might be fatal in a newborn. The need for antibiotics in cases where the pregnant woman has any of the risk factors is thus generally stressed by doctors. A physician who fails to provide antibiotics in a scenario like this might be liable for malpractice.

by: Joseph Hernandez

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