[Incidence of B streptococcal diseases and colonization--a clinico-epidemiological study]

The incidence of newborn infections caused by group B streptococci (GBS) has risen significantly in recent years. In 1983 and 1984 ten GBS diseases of the newborns were registered in the Department of Neonatology of the University Hospital (Charité). This is a morbidity of 1.2 per 1,000 live births. Eight infants showed an early onset and 2 a late onset type. Three of the neonates died. These were term infants with a birth weight of more than 2,500 g. The isolated types in these cases were Ia, Ia/c and III. In 1983 and 1984 430 nonselected women between the 34th and 40th weeks of gestation were examined for GBS colonization. One rectal, vaginal and cervical swab was collected from each women and cultured both in a selective broth medium and a selective blood agar plate. The colonization rate was 11.4% in pregnant women. The most frequent colonized region was the rectum, followed by vagina and cervix. Cultures from infants were obtained from throat, left and right ear. 2.7% of the newborns were positive for GBS. The most frequent isolated types are III/R and Ia. In all cases, positive for maternal and neonatal colonization, the isolated types were identical.