Abstract
It is important to resolve existing differences of opinion regarding group B streptococcal type distribution in human disease because of the relevance of type prevalence to future programs of prevention. This report compares data obtained from typing 392 group B streptococci isolated from systemic infections in infants and adults in the USA from 1972 through 1975. The data showed a substantial predominance of type III among strains isolated from cases of infant meningitis and from late-onset septicemia but did not confirm a prior report that type Ia causes most cases of early-onset infant septicemia. Type II was the predominant serotype among 11 CSF isolates from adults. The fact that over 1/4 of the isolates were types other than Ia or III means that future epidemiological studies, including definition of immunological factors, must include all 5 group B types.

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