Understand
Southampton parents welcome Group B Strep vaccine development
Overview
Parents in Southampton are speaking out to raise awareness of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) after their newborn son nearly died from sepsis and meningitis caused by the bacteria. Meanwhile, researchers at University Hospital Southampton and other UK facilities are participating in a phase three clinical trial for a new GBS vaccine, which experts say could be a game changer for preventing life-threatening infections in newborns.
Key points
- A Southampton couple shared their experience after their three-week-old son Leo developed sepsis and meningitis from Group B Strep (GBS).
- GBS is carried harmlessly by about one-in-four women but can cause severe, life-threatening infections in newborn babies.
- Researchers at University Hospital Southampton and nine other UK facilities are taking part in a phase three trial for a new GBS vaccine.
- Current UK guidelines do not routinely screen for GBS, instead offering antibiotics to women with known carriage or risk factors, which only protects against early-onset infections.
- Some parents, including a healthcare worker whose daughter Isobel is part of the double-blind study, have welcomed the trial as a meaningful contribution to future protection.