Incidence and duration of group B Streptococcus by serotype among male and female college students living in a single dormitory

Group B Streptococcus causes a variety of morbid and sometimes fatal conditions affecting individuals of all age groups. There are nine known serotypes of this Gram-positive coccus but few estimates of the incidence and duration of its colonization and none by serotype in the literature. In 2001, the authors conducted a prospective cohort study among 257 men and women living in a single dormitory in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The 3-week incidence with any serotype was 11.3% (+/- 3.9%) among women and 8.8% (+/- 3.0%) among men; 3-week incidence rates were highest for serotype V (4.7% for women and 3.5% for men) and type Ia (2.3% for women and 2.4% for men), with no significant differences by gender. The estimated average duration of any group B Streptococcus colonization was longer for women (13.7 weeks) than men (8.5 weeks); serotype Ia was carried an average of 6.5 weeks longer in women, and serotype III was carried 4.9 weeks longer. Colonization with more than one serotype occurred significantly less than would be expected by chance (p <<< 0.001). Based on the overall incidence, transmission occurred between roommate pairs at the rate expected. Group B Streptococcus colonization is frequent and dynamic, but it is not transmitted by casual contact.