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Chamber and committees

Group B Streptococcus Awareness Month

  • Submitted by: Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour.
  • Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 June 2014
  • Motion reference: S4M-10457

That the Parliament welcomes July 2014 as Group B Streptococcus (GBS) Awareness Month; notes the risk that is associated with GBS carriers and pregnancy, which can pass on the infection, which is commonly carried without harm by many people but can lead to serious infection in infants during birth if a pregnant mother happens to be a carrier; understands that approximately 700 infants will be born in the UK with GBS in 2014 and that this can be prevented by GBS testing for mothers and treatment with intravenous antibiotics during labour, especially if a previous child developed GBS shortly after birth; believes that the risk to infants who contract GBS is very serious and that infection can lead to death and permanent medical complications such as long-term disability; notes the dangers that exist as a result of the reported growing resistance of GBS to clindamycin, a medication that is essential for pregnant mothers who are allergic to penicillin, and further notes petition PE1505 regarding GBS in pregnancy, which was discussed by the Public Petitions Committee on 18 March and is scheduled to be discussed again on 17 November, which calls for a requirement for patients to be informed about the risk of GBS.


Supported by: Clare Adamson, Jackie Baillie, Jayne Baxter, Colin Beattie, Roderick Campbell, Bob Doris, Patricia Ferguson, Neil Findlay, Rob Gibson, Cara Hilton, Richard Lyle, Mark McDonald, Margaret McDougall, Anne McTaggart, Nanette Milne, Elaine Murray, Elaine Smith, David Stewart, Sandra White