Faecal carriage of group B streptococci

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Abstract
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 (⩽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⩽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.