The Prevalence and Persistence of Group B Streptococcal Colonization Among Hospital Personnel

Abstract

A prospective study was performed to determine the prevalence and persistence of group B streptococcal colonization among obstetric (high-risk) and nonobstetric (low-risk) personnel. Seventy-four individuals participated in the study and the following sites were sampled: throat, rectum, vagina (females) and anterior urethra (males). The overall colonization rate was 32.4% and no statistical difference was found between high- and low-risk groups. The most frequently recovered serotypes were type III (37.5%) and type II/Ic (33.3%). Individuals older than 30 years were more likely to carry type II/Ic, whereas personnel in their twenties were most frequently colonized with type III. The rectum was the most frequently colonized site (83.3%). The vagina/urethra was colonized in 62.5% and the throat in 8.4% of carriers. Twenty-three culture-positive individuals were recultured from all sites three to six months later and persistent colonization was found in 56.5%. There was no statistical difference in persistence between the high- and low-risk groups. Type III carriers tended to become culture-negative, whereas type II/Ic carriers were significantly more likely to remain colonized with group B streptococci.

Multicenter Study of a Rapid Molecular-Based Assay for the Diagnosis of Group B Streptococcus Colonization in Pregnant Women

“…regions is consistent with published literature [6,12,[28][29][30][31][32]. There were no obvious differences in procedures or in culture methodology that might account for the low prevalence in Montreal.…”

Supraglottitis due to group Bstreptococcus in an adult with IgG4 and C2 deficiency: A case report and review of the literature

“…GBS is a polysaccharide‐encapsulated Gram‐positive coccus that commonly colonizes the human genital and gastrointestinal tracts, and the upper respiratory tract in young infants . Oropharyngeal colonization has been described as occurring in 4% to 8.4% of healthy nonpregnant adults and of 4.4% of girls and 7% of boys with diabetes . It is an increasingly recognized cause of bacteremia without a focus, as well as a causative organism in soft tissue infections and other focal infections in nonpregnant adults.…”