CARRIAGE OF GROUP-B STREPTOCOCCI IN PREGNANT GAMBIAN MOTHERS AND THEIR INFANTS

The prevalence of group B streptococcal (GBS) colonization was studied in 136 pregnant women and their newborn infants by collecting vaginal and rectal swabs from the mothers and throat, rectal, and umbilical s wabs from their infants. Maternal and infant colonization rates were 2 2% and 23%, respectively. One-third of infants born to colonized mothe rs and 15% of infants born to noncolonized mothers had GBS isolated. O f GBS-colonized infants, 50% remained colonized at the mean age of 2 m onths. Type V was the commonest serotype among GBS isolates from mothe rs and infants; type III strains were uncommon. The rarity of GBS dise ase in Gambian infants may be due to low rates of maternal carriage wi th the more virulent GBS serotypes.