Risk factors

Infants

An infant is at increased risk of developing group B strep disease if:

• The mother carries group B strep in her body
• The baby is born prematurely (earlier than 37 weeks)
• The mother's water breaks 18 hours or more before delivery
• The mother has an infection of the placental tissues and amniotic fluid (chorioamnionitis)
• The mother has a urinary tract infection during the pregnancy
• The mother's temperature is greater than 100.4 F (38 C) during labor
• The mother previously delivered an infant with group B strep disease

Adults

Adults age 65 and older are at increased risk of group B strep. You're also at increased risk of if you have a condition that impairs your immune system or other serious diseases, including the following:

• Diabetes
• HIV infection
• Liver disease
• Heart disease
• Cancer or history of cancer