The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published its annual report on streptococcal bloodstream infections in England. Within it are findings that matter for babies, pregnant women and people and those caring for them.
At Group B Strep Support (GBSS), we follow the data closely. Surveillance reports help show where progress is being made, where risks remain and where there is a gap between what we know about preventing group B Strep and what happens in everyday care.
Group B Strep remains a leading cause of serious infection in babies
The report shows that in 2024 there were 2,392 cases of group B Strep (GBS) bacteraemia reported in England (an 8% increase compared with 2020), continuing a longer-term upward trend seen after the early pandemic years. “Bacteraemia” means bacteria in the bloodstream.
As in previous years, the highest rates of GBS disease were in infants (unlike many other streptococcal infections, which mainly affect older people). In babies, GBS can cause rapidly serious infection, including sepsis, meningitis, that can lead to long-term disability and, tragically, death.
In infants under 90 days (under 3 months), the rate increased in 2024 compared with 2023, from 0.64 to 0.70 cases per 1,000 live births. These figures include both early-onset (in the first week of life) and late-onset disease (from day 7 onwards).
Antibiotic resistance in GBS continues to rise
The report highlights increasing resistance to some antibiotics. Between 2020 and 2024, resistance in GBS bacteraemia rose from 31% to 36% for clindamycin and from 36% to 44% for erythromycin. These antibiotics may be considered when someone cannot have first-line antibiotics (for example because of a penicillin allergy), so rising resistance can limit options.
Inequalities persist
The report also looks at GBS rates by region, deprivation and ethnicity. It shows higher rates of pyogenic streptococcal disease, including GBS in more deprived areas. In 2024, GBS bacteraemia rates were highest among people recorded as Black (4.9 per 100,000 population), compared with people recorded as white (4.9 per 100,000).
What this means for testing and prevention
England does not currently have a routine screening programme for GBS in pregnancy, and care is largely based on risk factors. This can mean some people carrying GBS are not identified in time to be offered antibiotics in labour.
For pregnant woman and people and new parents:
- Ask your midwife or doctor about GBS testing options and what they mean for labour.
- If your baby is unwell, seek urgent medical advice, especially for fever or low temperature, feeding problems, unusual sleepiness, fast breathing, grunting, or a change in colour.
- If you are told you carry GBS, ask what to watch for after birth and when to get help.
The UKHSA report does not evaluate policy, but the surveillance findings strengthen the case for improvement. Rising infant disease rates and increasing antibiotic resistance underline why relying solely on risk factors identified during labour is not enough.
Some countries offer routine screening late in pregnancy to identify more people who carry GBS, so that if appropriate they can be offered intravenous antibiotics during labour to reduce the risk of early-onset GBS disease. This remains an important part of the conversation in England as we await the results of the GBS3 trial.
GBSS’s role
At GBSS, we use UKHSA data like these to inform our advocacy and support families affected by GBS. The latest findings are a reminder that babies are still becoming seriously ill; and that we need prevention, timely treatment and clear information for every family.
You can read the full report on the UKHSA website by clicking the button below.
If you have questions about GBS in pregnancy or the signs of infection in young babies, GBSS is here to help.
