The Persistence of Group B Streptococci in Families

Four years ago the relative occurrence of group B streptococci was studied in a group of 118 term pregnant women of which 17 were B-streptococcal carriers. Of these, 15 were investigated in connection with the delivery. 11 of these women were reexamined 45-50 months after delivery together with their families. A high frequency of positive cultures without symptoms (50%) was found in this small group of women and their husbands compared with male and female control groups. Persistence seems to be common, a fact to be remembered in subsequent pregnancies.