Group B streptococcal colonization in prepubertal children
Maurer, M.; Thirumoorthi, M.C.; Dajani, A.S.
Pediatrics 64(1): 65-67
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-4005 PMID: 377205 Document Number: 149022
Colonization of prepubertal boys and girls with group B streptococci was studied prosepctively for one year. Throat, anal canal, and vaginal cultures were obtained from 415 children not receiving antimicrobics. The over-all colonization rate at any site was 11.3% and did not vary with age, sex, or season. Streptococci were recovered most commonly from the anal canal. Throat colonization was comparable in boys and girls. A total of 71 sites were positive for the organism in the 47 colonized children. Serotype Ia was the most common (41% of isolates). Types II and III accounted for 24% and 20%, respectively. Colonization at more than one site occurred in 20 children and in two of these children, different serotypes were recovered from different sites.