Invasive group B streptococcal disease in Maryland nursing home residents.
Between 1991 and 1995, among 999 nonpregnant adult Maryland residents with group B Streptococcus (GBS) isolated from a normally sterile site, 84 resided in nursing homes (NHs). The age-adjusted annual incidence of GBS infection (per 100,000 population) among those > or = 65 years old was 72.3 for NH residents and 17.5 for community residents (relative risk, 4.1; P < 0.001). Thirty-four case patients resided in 11 NHs with > or = 2 cases; 1 NH had 8 case patients within 22 months. Six of 8 case patients from 3 NHs had serotype V GBS. Molecular subtyping of several isolates identified 2 case patients in 1 NH with identical subtype patterns. NH residents have a markedly higher incidence of invasive GBS than do community residents > or = 65 years old and may serve as a target group for immunization when GBS vaccines become available. Further evaluation of intra-NH transmission of GBS is warranted.
Epidemiology and Disease Control Program, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Baltimore, MD, USA.
K J
KJ
Henning
E L
EL
Hall
D M
DM
Dwyer
L
L
Billmann
A
A
Schuchat
J A
JA
Johnson
L H
LH
Harrison
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D009735:Nursing Homes; D012703:Serotyping; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification*