Pregnancy requires careful monitoring—not only of the baby, but also of the mother. When maternal infections go undiagnosed or untreated, the consequences can be devastating for both mother and child. In some cases, preventable infections during pregnancy or labor lead to brain damage, lifelong disabilities, or even neonatal wrongful death.
At Bounds Law Group, we represent families throughout Florida in complex birth injury and medical malpractice cases. One of the most serious and preventable forms of negligence we investigate involves the failure to diagnose or properly treat maternal infections during pregnancy and delivery.
If you believe negligent medical care caused you or your loved one's injuries or death, complete our free case evaluation form or call 877-644-5122 today.
How Maternal Infections Affect Newborns
Certain infections can pass from mother to baby before or during birth. Others can trigger premature labor, oxygen deprivation, or systemic inflammation that harms the baby’s developing brain.
When infections are not identified and treated promptly, newborns may suffer:
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
- Cerebral palsy
- Sepsis
- Meningitis
- Brain hemorrhage
- Developmental delays
- Respiratory failure
- Wrongful death
Many of these outcomes are preventable with timely medical care.
Common Maternal Infections That Require Monitoring
Healthcare providers in Florida are trained to screen for and manage infections that can threaten a pregnancy. Common high-risk infections include:
Group B Streptococcus (GBS)
GBS is a bacterial infection that many women carry without symptoms. Standard medical guidelines require screening during pregnancy. If positive, intravenous antibiotics should be administered during labor to reduce the risk of neonatal infection.
Failure to test or treat GBS can result in newborn sepsis or meningitis.
Chorioamnionitis
Chorioamnionitis is an infection of the amniotic fluid and membranes surrounding the baby. It can cause inflammation, fetal distress, and brain injury if not treated promptly.
Signs may include maternal fever, rapid heart rate, uterine tenderness, and abnormal fetal heart tracings.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
Untreated UTIs during pregnancy can lead to kidney infections, premature labor, and complications that endanger the baby.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Certain untreated STIs can cause serious neonatal complications if not properly managed.
Viral Infections
Infections such as herpes simplex virus (HSV) may require delivery by C-section to prevent transmission to the newborn.
How Medical Negligence Occurs
In Florida birth injury malpractice cases involving maternal infections, common failures include:
- Failure to screen for GBS during pregnancy
- Failure to administer antibiotics during labor
- Ignoring signs of maternal fever
- Delaying treatment of suspected infection
- Failing to monitor fetal distress associated with infection
- Discharging a mother with untreated infection symptoms
In some cases, providers dismiss warning signs as minor or routine—losing critical time needed to protect the baby.
The Link Between Infection and Brain Injury
Infections during labor can cause inflammation in the baby’s brain. This inflammatory response may contribute to:
- Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL)
- Cerebral palsy
- Seizure disorders
- Cognitive impairment
When combined with oxygen deprivation, infection-related inflammation can significantly worsen neurological injury.
Early recognition and treatment are critical to reducing the risk of permanent harm.
Florida’s Standard of Care for Infection Management
Under Florida Statutes Chapter 766, obstetricians, nurses, and hospitals must meet the prevailing professional standard of care. This includes:
- Proper prenatal screening
- Monitoring maternal vital signs
- Recognizing infection symptoms
- Administering antibiotics when indicated
- Closely monitoring fetal well-being
- Acting promptly when fetal distress appears
If a reasonably prudent healthcare provider would have diagnosed and treated the infection sooner—and the failure resulted in injury—medical malpractice may have occurred.
Warning Signs of Infection-Related Birth Injury
Parents may notice early signs that something went wrong, including:
- Maternal fever during labor
- Low Apgar scores
- NICU admission
- Seizures shortly after birth
- Diagnosis of neonatal sepsis
- Cooling therapy for suspected brain injury
- Developmental delays emerging months later
Medical records often reveal whether infection warning signs were documented but not properly addressed.
Proving a Florida Birth Injury Medical Malpractice Case
Cases involving maternal infection require detailed analysis of:
- Prenatal records
- GBS screening results
- Antibiotic administration logs
- Labor and delivery notes
- Fetal heart monitoring strips
- Neonatal lab results and cultures
- NICU records
Expert testimony from obstetricians, infectious disease specialists, and neonatologists is typically required to establish whether earlier treatment would have prevented the injury.
Florida law also requires strict compliance with pre-suit investigation procedures, including obtaining a corroborating expert affidavit before filing suit.
The Long-Term Impact on Families
Children who suffer infection-related brain injuries may require:
- Lifelong therapy and rehabilitation
- Special education services
- Assistive mobility devices
- Neurological care
- Ongoing medical support
The financial and emotional burden can be overwhelming. These cases often involve substantial future care needs.
Compensation in Florida Birth Injury Cases
Families may be entitled to compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Long-term therapy and care
- Assistive devices
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of earning capacity
- In fatal cases, wrongful death damages
Birth injury litigation aims to secure the resources necessary to provide proper care and support for the child’s future.
The Complexity of Infection-Related Birth Injury Cases
Hospitals and providers may argue that infections can develop rapidly or are unavoidable. However, proper screening and timely antibiotic treatment are well-established medical standards.
These cases require:
- Detailed expert review
- Timeline reconstruction
- Analysis of fetal monitoring
- Strict adherence to Florida malpractice statutes
At Bounds Law Group, we understand the complexities of infection-related birth injury cases and advocate for families across Florida.
Contact Bounds Law Group for a Free Consultation
If your child suffered brain injury, sepsis, cerebral palsy, or other complications after a maternal infection during pregnancy or labor in Florida, you deserve answers.
Bounds Law Group represents families in serious birth injury medical malpractice cases throughout the state. We carefully review medical records to determine whether preventable errors contributed to your child’s injury.
Contact Bounds Law Group today for a confidential, free consultation. Let us help you understand your legal options and whether medical negligence played a role in your child’s condition.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Group B Strep and Pregnancy
Guidelines for screening and treating GBS during pregnancy.
https://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep - American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) – Intraamniotic Infection Guidelines
Clinical standards for diagnosing and managing maternal infections during labor.
https://www.acog.org - Florida Statutes Chapter 766 – Medical Malpractice Law
Florida statutes governing the standard of care and pre-suit requirements in medical negligence cases.
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0766/0766.html