Group B streptococci in human disease.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION .............................. 774 History and Nomenclature .............................. 774 Human Disease .............................. 774 THE AGENT .............................. 775 Strains of Bovine and Human Origin ............ .................. 775 Seroclassification .............................. 775 Virulence Factors .............................. 776 Metabolism .............................. 777 CLINICAL DISEASE SPECTRUM ......... ..................... 777 Early Recognition ............................. 777 Neonatal Disease .............................. 778 Disease in Older Children and Adults .......... ................... 779 PATHOGENESIS .............................. 779 Perinatal Colonization .............................. 779 Postnatal Colonization ............................. 780 LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS ............................. 780 Selective Broth Medium for Primary Isolation ................................. 780 Presumptive Identification ............ ......................... 781 Serological Identification .......... ........................... 782 IMMUNOLOGY ...................................... 782 Host Antibody Response .......... ........................... 782 Leukocytic Response ........ ............................. 783 EPIDEMIOLOGY ...................................... 783 Incidence ...................................... 783 Source ...................................... 784 Transmission ...................................... 784 Microbial Persistence ......... ............................ 784 Race ...................................... 785 Sex ..................................... 785 Other Factors ...................................... 785 PROPHYLAXIS AND TREATMENT ...................................... 785 Spectrum of Antimicrobial Susceptibility ..................................... 785 Carrier Prophylaxis ..................................... 785 CONCLUDING REMARKS .......... ........................... 787 LITERATURE CITED ........ ............................. 787