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The Prevalence and Persistence of Group B Streptococcal Colonization Among Hospital Personnel
Author(s) -
Green Stephen L.,
Nodell Carolyn C.,
Porter Carol Q.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/j.1879-3479.1978.tb00406.x
Subject(s) - colonization , medicine , vagina , throat , persistence (discontinuity) , rectum , group b , serotype , prospective cohort study , gynecology , surgery , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , biology , geotechnical engineering , engineering
A prospective study was performed to determine the prevalence and persistence of group B streptococcal colonization among obstetric (high‐risk) and nonobstetric (low‐risk) personnel. Seventy‐four individuals participated in the study and the following sites were sampled: throat, rectum, vagina (females) and anterior urethra (males). The overall colonization rate was 32.4% and no statistical difference was found between high‐ and low‐risk groups. The most frequently recovered serotypes were type III (37.5%) and type II/Ic (33.3%). Individuals older than 30 years were more likely to carry type II/Ic, whereas personnel in their twenties were most frequently colonized with type III. The rectum was the most frequently colonized site (83.3%). The vagina/urethra was colonized in 62.5% and the throat in 8.4% of carriers. Twenty‐three culture‐positive individuals were recultured from all sites three to six months later and persistent colonization was found in 56.5%. There was no statistical difference in persistence between the high‐ and low‐risk groups. Type III carriers tended to become culture‐negative, whereas type II/Ic carriers were significantly more likely to remain colonized with group B streptococci.