Can group B streptococci cause symptomatic vaginitis?
BACKGROUND
Maternal cervicovaginal colonization with Lancefield group B streptococci (GBS) is an important risk factor for neonatal morbidity and mortality. About 15% of women are carriers of GBS. Usually, they are asymptomatic.


METHODS
We describe two patients with symptomatic vaginitis for which no apparent cause was found. Both patients were heavily colonized with GBS. After antibiotic treatment, both became asymptomatic and culture negative, but after recolonization with GBS, symptoms resumed. This phenomenon was repeatedly observed. After emergence of resistance to antibiotics, local application of chlorhexidine appeared to be the only useful treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
We hypothesize that GBS-vaginitis may be a possible disease entity. Although at present it is not clear why some patients become symptomatic, we speculate that the immunologic response is somehow selectively hampered in such patients.
Honig
E
E
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Mouton
J W
JW
van der Meijden
W I
WI
D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002710:Chlorhexidine