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Associations between nasopharyngeal carriage of Group B Streptococcus and other respiratory pathogens during early

Ebenezer Foster-Nyarko1, Brenda Kwambana1, Odutola Aderonke1

  • 1Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Banjul, The Gambia.

BMC Microbiology
|May 28, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) carriage in Gambian infants is characterized, with serotypes V and II dominating. GBS co-colonization showed associations with Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Moraxella catarrhalis.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Group B Streptococcus (GBS) carriage in West African infants is not well-understood.
  • This study investigated GBS co-carriage with other respiratory pathogens in infants in The Gambia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize GBS carriage, serotypes, and antibiotic susceptibility in infants.
  • To explore co-carriage patterns of GBS with common respiratory pathogens.

Main Methods:

  • 1200 two-month-old infants in The Gambia were assessed.
  • Carriage of Beta-haemolytic Streptococci (BHS) groups A-G, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Moraxella catarrhalis was evaluated.

Main Results:

  • Beta-haemolytic Streptococci prevalence was 20.0%, with GBS being dominant (13.8%), particularly serotypes V and II.
  • GBS carriage was associated with Staphylococcus aureus (OR 1.89) and negatively associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae (OR 0.47) and Moraxella catarrhalis (OR 0.61).
  • Over 89% of GBS isolates were susceptible to most tested antibiotics, except for tetracycline resistance (89%).

Conclusions:

  • This study establishes baseline data for GBS carriage in two-month-old infants in West Africa.
  • Serotypes V and II are the dominant GBS serotypes in this region.
  • Findings may inform future GBS vaccine development for West Africa.
Abstract

Keywords:
Beta-haemolytic streptococciGambiaGroup B streptococcusNasopharyngeal

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