The Prevalence of Group B Streptococci in Human Urogenital Secretions

Urogenital secretions from a total of 510 patients (153 female and 151 male venereological patients, 123 gynaecological patients and 83 gynaecologically normal women) have been examined for group B streptococci (B-str.) and gonococci. The prevalence of B-str. (32%) among the female venereological patients was significantly higher than among the gynaecological patients (21.1%) and normal women (18.0%). Urethral samples gave a higher recovery rate of B-str. than cervical samples. A significant correlation was demonstrated between the presence of B-str. and the diagnosis of vaginitis in the gynaecological material. Fermentation types of B-str. isolated from urogenital patients differed considerably from the types prevalent in bovine isolates.