Upper respiratory tract spread of group B streptococci type I b in a kindergarten

Scand J Infect Dis. 1979;11(2):129-33. doi: 10.3109/inf.1979.11.issue-2.06.

Abstract

In a kindergarten with 42 children and 17 female staff members, an epidemic of group B streptococcal carriage in the upper respiratory tract occurred. In the middle of February 1978, 6 children and 5 adults carried type I b streptococci in the throat while only 2 of these 11 were carriers 2 weeks later. Only one other streptococcus, belonging to type II, was found in the throat specimens. Five strains other than type I b were found in the urogenital tract of the staff. Three type I b throat carriers were also urogenital carriers of this type. The spread of type I b streptococci could have resulted from co-spreading with other upper respiratory tract pathogens found, including group A streptococci of type 12. Haemophilus influenzae, Branhamella catarrhalis and pneumococci. Estimation of antibodies with radiolabelled protein A indicated an immune response to type I b, but not to types I a, II or III group B streptococci in the staff compared with healthy blood donors.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Carrier State
  • Child
  • Child Day Care Centers
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Haemophilus influenzae / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pharynx / microbiology
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology*
  • Streptococcal Infections / epidemiology*
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / immunology
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / isolation & purification
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / isolation & purification
  • Sweden
  • Urogenital System / microbiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial