No abstract

The acquisition of group B streptococci by babies in a special-care baby unit and two postnatal wards was investigated over a six-month period using serology and phage typing. Sixty-three culture-positive babies were identified in the postnatal wards, one-third of whom had been born to mothers who were not carrying the organism in the genital tract or anorectal area during labour. A non-maternal source was identified for 14 of these 21 infants: either colonised mothers and babies in the same ward or, on one occasion, a member of the hospital staff. In the special-care baby unit, however, only one instance of nosocomial acquisition of group B streptococci was recorded despite a high prevalence of colonisation in the staff on the unit and the presence of heavily colonised babies.The results of this survey suggest that although sepsis caused by group B streptococci may be the result of nosocomial transmission, this may be prevented by careful attention to hygiene.

A high incidence of group B streptococcal disease of the newborn in West Berkshire led to a prospective study of the condition. Cultures taken from 1090 babies shortly after birth showed that 65 (6%) were colonised with the streptococcus. Thirty of these babies were assigned to group 1. Bacteriological samples were taken from babies and mothers at birth and at four, eight, and 12 weeks, and also from fathers and siblings. Fifty uncolonised babies and their families were similarly studied and served as controls (group 2).In group 1, 28 of the 30 mothers and 14 of the 28 fathers examined were colonised by group B streptococci. In group 2 the streptococci were isolated from three babies, 12 mothers, and 11 out of 45 fathers during follow-up.These findings suggest that group B streptococci are carried predominantly in the lower gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. Most families are lightly colonised, but in others maternal colonisation is stable and heavy and the incidence of paternal colonisation high. Results of serotyping suggest that sexual transmission occurs, which may explain the difficulty in eradicating the organism during pregnancy. IntroductionThe potential pathogenicity of the group B streptococcus is not in doubt, and a clinical problem that faces obstetricians and paediatricians is how best to manage mother and baby when one

\s=b\Two premature infants in a special care nursery acquired late-onset group B streptococcal (GBS) sepsis within a 24\ x=req-\ hour period. The infecting strains were serotype III organisms with bacteriophage type 7/11/12. Cultures of the mothers of the two affected infants were negative for GBS, implying nosocomial acquisition of infection. Although 32% of nursery personnel had mucosal carriage of GBS, none of the seven isolates of GBS type III was the same bacteriophage type as the two infecting strains. Of the other infants hospitalized in the nursery, five were asymptomatically colonized with GBS. These infants were in bassinets adjacent to the affected infants; all five of their isolates were identical to the two infecting strains. We conclude that infant-to-infant transmission may result in nosocomial late-onset GBS septicemia.(Am J Dis Child 134: [964][965][966] 1980)

High rates of carriage of group B streptococci were found among men (38%) and women (42 3 %) attending a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases. Swabs from the perineal/ anorectal area gave the highest isolation rate and those from the urethra the lowest. The subpreputial sac was an important site for carriage of the organism, and there was a strong association between streptococcal isolation and balanitis. Of 92 couples studied, neither partner was colonised with group B streptococci in 36. In a further 36 one or other was colonised and in 20 both were colonised. Serotyping and phage typing showed that only three of these 20 couples were colonised with similar strains of the organism.