title: Associations between nasopharyngeal carriage of Group B Streptococcus and other respiratory pathogens during early infancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In West Africa, the carriage of Group B Streptococcus (GBS), among infants is poorly characterised. We investigated co-carriage of GBS with other respiratory pathogens in the infants' nasopharynx in The Gambia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the carriage, serotypes and antibiotic susceptibility of Beta-haemolytic Streptococci (BHS) groups A-G; along with the carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Haemophilus influenzae; Staphylococcus aureus and Moraxella catarrhalis in 1200 two-month old infants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The BHS prevalence was 20.0 % and GBS dominated (13.8 %), particularly serotypes V and II; serotype V being negatively associated with H. Influenzae carriage (OR 0.41 [95 % CI: 0.18-0.93], p = 0.033). Although co-colonization of GBS and other BHS was not seen, colonization with GBS was positively associated with S. aureus (OR 1.89 [95 % CI: 1.33-2.69], P < 0.001) and negatively associated with S. pneumoniae (OR 0.47 [95 % CI: 0.33-0.67], p < 0.001) and M. catarrhalis (OR 0.61 [95 % CI: 0.40-0.92], p = 0.017). ≥ 89 % of GBS isolates were susceptible to most antibiotics tested, except for tetracycline resistance, which was 89 %.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides baseline data on the carriage of GBS in two month old infants from West Africa. The dominant serotypes of GBS in this setting are serotypes V and II. This may be important for future GBS vaccine development for the West African sub-region.
authors.affiliation: Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Banjul, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Ebenezer
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Foster-Nyarko
authors.affiliation: Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Banjul, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kwambana
authors.affiliation: Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Banjul, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Odutola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aderonke
authors.affiliation: Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Banjul, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ceesay
authors.affiliation: Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Banjul, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Sheikh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jarju
authors.affiliation: Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Banjul, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Abdoulie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bojang
authors.affiliation: Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Banjul, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McLellan
authors.affiliation: Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Banjul, The Gambia.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jafali
authors.affiliation: Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Banjul, The Gambia.
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kampmann
authors.affiliation: Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Banjul, The Gambia.|Current Address: WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo.
authors.forename: Martin O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.affiliation: Disease Control and Elimination Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Banjul, The Gambia.|Current Address: Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Ifedayo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Adetifa
authors.affiliation: Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Banjul, The Gambia. mantonio@mrc.gm.|Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK. mantonio@mrc.gm.|Microbiology and Infection Unit, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. mantonio@mrc.gm.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Antonio
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005714:Gambia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D001936:Moraxella catarrhalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D013752:Tetracycline
keywords: Beta-haemolytic streptococci; Gambia; Group B streptococcus; Nasopharyngeal