Characteristics of <i>Streptococcus agalactiae</i> Colonizing Nonpregnant Adults Support the Opportunistic Nature of Invasive Infections
Elisabete Martins, Dulce Do Ó, Ana Luísa Marques Costa, José Melo‐Cristino, Mário Ramirez
Abstract
The increasing incidence of Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococci [GBS]) infections in adults and the inability of antimicrobial prophylaxis peripartum to control late-onset infections in infants motivate the study of the asymptomatic carrier state in nonpregnant adults. We found an overall carriage rate like that of pregnant women, increasing with age, potentially contributing to the higher incidence of GBS infections with age. Colonization of diabetic participants was not higher despite the higher number of infections in this group. Comparison between contemporary genetic lineages causing infections and found in asymptomatic carriers did not identify particularly virulent lineages. This means that any prophylactic approaches targeting colonization by particular lineages are expected to have a limited impact on GBS disease in adults.