title: Epidemiology of group B Streptococcus ST-17 clone in pregnant women of South Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to utilize a simple molecular assay to simultaneously detect both group B Streptococcus (GBS) and virulent ST-17 rectovaginal colonization. We also attempted to estimate the prevalence of maternal GBS and ST-17 carriers and to evaluate their seasonal association.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used an optimized multiplex PCR method employing scp-B and ST-17 primers to analyze DNA extracted from rectovaginal swabs of 3,064 cases collected over 3 years. The incidence trends, seasonal variations, and temperature preference were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of maternal colonization for GBS and ST-17 clone were 13.25 and 2.48%, respectively. The ST-17 to GBS ratio was 18.72%. The occurrence of ST-17 colonization was significantly associated with seasonal variations with a preference for lower temperatures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We developed a novel multiplex PCR method suitable for the simultaneous detection of GBS and ST-17 clone. The phenomenon of lower temperature preference for ST-17 clone necessitates further investigation. The epidemiological data for GBS and ST-17 incidence are especially important to establish a public policy for universal GBS screening in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yen-Ying
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Te-Yao
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Shu-Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Tsi-Shu
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jau-Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Moh
authors.forename: Cheng-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chia-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology; D012621:Seasons; D012703:Serotyping; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology