Group B Strep Support and Microbirth School are delighted to launch our new online course to help midwives and doctors better understand and prevent group B Strep infection in babies.
Group B Strep is a common bacterium carried by many adults in the gut and in women in the vagina, usually causing no harm. However, it the most common cause of severe infection in newborn babies, and of meningitis in babies during their first 3 months of life.
Group B Strep causes sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis. If left untreated, the infection can kill a newborn baby in hours. On average in the UK:
- two babies each day develop a group B Strep infection
- one baby each week dies from a group B Strep infection and
- one baby each week survives a group B Strep infection with life-changing disability.
Despite this, relatively few have heard of it, and there are many myths and misunderstandings about group B Strep.
There also been for a long time little high-quality e-learning available on group B Strep – this new course changes that, providing midwives, doctors and other health workers with the key information they need about group B Strep.
“I’m delighted to have worked in partnership with MicroBirth to develop this online course for busy midwives, doctors and other health workers.
Sadly health professionals have all too often not been well-served with up-to-date and accurate information on group B Strep. This course will correct that, and will be a useful resource going forward.
It will, I believe, help more group B Strep infections in newborn babies to be prevented, and ensure expectant parents can make informed choices.”
Click here to be taken to the Group B Strep (GBS) Course
Over the last year, Group B Strep Support has worked in partnership with Microbirth School to develop this course, working together to ensure this course is relevant, evidence-based and up-to-date. It contains clear information on the epidemiology of group B Strep, the incidence of these infections and the latest prevention programmes both here and abroad.
Please take part in this course via our affiliate link, click www.bit.ly/GBSCourse1.
“Group B Strep is a complex difficult subject and the guidelines can be a minefield to navigate. I believe every health professional needs to be fully up-to-speed with the latest research in order to better support parents with full informed choice and more importantly, this knowledge can save lives. That’s why we are so excited to be teaming up with Group B Strep Support to deliver this critical information in an easy-to-understand evidence-based format.”
Click here to be taken to the Group B Strep (GBS) Course
“As online education becomes more popular, this is the right time that a package on GBS is available.
Designed into sessions the introduction of how to use the package permits the learner the skills to traverse through the documents. The layout is clear, well designed with a balance between interviews and slides, which enhance each other and keep the learners attention as each is designed in small sessions. The graphics on the slides are clear and the interviews from international speakers enhance the session presentation.
The content is comprehensive including physiology, research and practical clinical advice. The international perspectives allow the learner to view the differences between five countries (UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand) but does not preclude the challenges in developing countries where neonatal sepsis is a huge issue.
Up to date information is shared about the microbiome, LSCS and breast feeding and the influence of GBS. Throughout the learning package there are learning outcomes, references and summary questions.
At the end of the learning package each of the experts summarise with take home messages – Breast feeding supports the microbiome, the differences between developed and developing countries, women need to be aware of GBS so they can make informed decisions and that choice and knowledge supports GBS recognition.
The research looking for a vaccine for GBS is discussed at the end of the package and opens the window on future management of GBS.”
