Faecal carriage of group B streptococci

A study of 1,138 primarily healthy subjects of various ages and sex was conducted to determine the faecal isolation rate of group B streptococci. Five percent of 284 neonates (less than or equal to 5 days old) and 4% of 267 healthy children (1-15 years old) were found to be faecal carriers. Adults were more frequently faecal carriers than children, group B streptococci being isolated in 15% of 361 adults and 11% of 226 pregnant patients. The isolation rate was independent of sex at all ages. Although group B streptococci were found more frequently in rectal than in faecal specimens from pregnant women (p less than or equal to 0.001), the isolation rate for faecal specimens could be increased by using a more selective broth. Forty-four percent of strains isolated from faeces of 105 subjects belonged to serotype III, 27% to type Ia, 15% to type Ib, 11% to type II and 3% were nontypeable. The same serotype of group B streptococci was usually present at different sites in each subject.