UPPER RESPIRATORY-TRACT SPREAD OF GROUP-B STREPTOCOCCI TYPE-IB IN A KINDERGARTEN

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 radiolabeled 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. © 1979, Informa UK Ltd. All rights reserved.