Group B streptoccoccal carriage in Nigeria

Abstract

1038 patients of different age groups and clinical conditions attending three large hospitals in Ibadan between August 1977 and December 1978 were screened for group B streptococcal carriage. 132 (12·7%) of these patients were found to be colonized by this organism. A breakdown of the colonization rates was: in women—19·3% during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, 17·6% during labour (third trimester) and 19% among STD patients; in adult males—9% among STD patients and nil among patients without STD; in newborns −4·7%. Type III was found most frequently (56·1%) and there was a high incidence of R and X strains and of strains with only Ic protein. Type Ia streptococci were sensitive to penicillin G, ampicillin, erythromycin and cephalothin. Only 74·2% of the strains were sensitive to tetracycline.