Balanitis caused by group B streptococcus.
The Lancefield group B streptococcus is a cause of serious genitourinary tract infections in peripartum women. However, it rarely has been implicated as a pathogen in genital infections of male subjects. We report severe recurrent balanitis owing to group B streptococcus in a sexually active young man. Group B streptococcus was cultured from the vagina of his asymptomatic consort on 1 occasion. It is postulated that penile cellulitis developed by invasion of group B streptococcus through a traumatic abrasion acquired during sexual intercourse. The preferred antibiotic treatment for balanitis caused by group B streptococcus is penicillin or erythromycin. Prevention of additional episodes may be difficult, since therapy of the female carrier state with antibiotics has not provided long-term eradication of group B streptococcus.
D000328:Adult; D001446:Balanitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D013290:Streptococcal Infections; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology