Group B beta-hemolytic streptococci in an intramural neonatal population.
An intramural population of 2480 neonates (88.7% of total births at the Grace Maternity Hospital, Halifax, Canada) was studied by rectal swabs collected within one hour after birth. Group B streptococci were recovered from 54 (21.7/1000 livebirths). Of these, 12(4.8/1000 livebirths) became symptomatic; all were term infants and none was born after prolonged membrane rupture. Two infants with pneumonia (0.8/1000) had severe life threatening illness; one was infected with group B streptococcus, serotype III, the other with both serotypes Ia and II. Serotyping of isolates showed equal distribution of types Ia, Ib, II and III but the symptomatic group showed a predominance of serotype III.
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity; D006782:Hospitals, Special; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology; D012703:Serotyping; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000302:isolation & purification