Invasive group B streptococcal infections in adults, France (2007–2010)

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2011.03628.x
• Publication Date: 2011-07-06T08:49:22Z
• Authors: A. Tazi; P.C. Morand; H. Réglier-Poupet; N. Dmytruk; A. Billoët; D. Antona; P. Trieu-Cuot; C. Poyart
• Keywords: Microbiology (medical); Adult; Male; 0301 basic medicine; Adolescent; Antibiotic resistance; Bacteremia; GBS; Bone and Bones; Streptococcus agalactiae; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; Streptococcal Infections; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Humans; Bacterial Capsules; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Middle Aged; capsular serotype; Erythromycin; 3. Good health; Infectious Diseases; Phenotype; Genes, Bacterial; invasive infections; Female; Joints; France

Group B streptococcus (GBS) has emerged as an important cause of invasive infection in adults. Here, we report the clinical and microbiological characteristics of 401 non-redundant GBS strains causing adult invasive infections collected during a 4-year period (2007-2010). Bacteraemia without focus (43.4%) and bone and joint infections (18.7%) were the main clinical manifestations. The distribution of capsular polysaccharide (CPS) type showed that types Ia, III, and V accounted for 71.8% of all strains. Resistance to erythromycin increased from 20.2% in 2007 to 35.3% in 2010, and was mainly associated with CPS type V harbouring the erm(B) resistant determinant.