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Written question asked by Peter Bottomley (Conservative) on Friday, 2 December 2016, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 6 December 2016. It was answered by Philip Dunne (Conservative) on Monday, 12 December 2016 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Babies: Streptococcus

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on the proportion of babies with group B streptococus infection that (a) die and (b) develop long-term health problems as a result of that infection.

Answer

The table below provides the number of deaths registered in 2015 to those aged between 28 days and under one year in England and Wales where the underlying cause of death was group B streptococcus (GBS) infection. It is not possible to identify a single underlying cause of death for babies born under 28 days.

It is estimated one in 10 babies born with GBS will die from the infection. Estimates have suggested that GBS will cause long term disability in approximately 25 babies a year.

Number of deaths registered to those aged between 28 days and under 1 year where the underlying cause of death was GBS infection, 2015, England and Wales

ICD-10 code

Underlying cause of death

Number of deaths registered

Percentage of all deaths at ages 28 days to one year

A40.1

Sepsis due to streptococcus, group B

1

0.1

B95.1

Streptococcus, group B, as the cause of diseases classified to other chapters

0

0

J15.3

Pneumonia due to streptococcus, group B

0

0

P23.3

Congenital pneumonia due to streptococcus, group B

0

0

P36.0

Sepsis of newborn due to streptococcus, group B

1

0.1

P39.8

Other specified infections specific to the perinatal period

2

0.2

Notes:

  1. There were 818 deaths registered to those aged between 28 days and one year in England and Wales in 2015.
  2. GBS infection can also be recorded under ICD-10 code P39.8 but deaths from other infections specific to the perinatal period can also be coded to P39.8.

Source: Office for National Statistics

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
56035
Session
2016-17
Subjects
Death Babies Health Streptococcus
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk