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British Medical Journal (Clinical Research Ed.) logoLink to British Medical Journal (Clinical Research Ed.)
. 1981 Aug 15;283(6289):459–461. doi: 10.1136/bmj.283.6289.459

Nosocomial transmission of group B streptococci.

C S Easmon, M J Hastings, A J Clare, B Bloxham, R Marwood, R P Rivers, J Stringer
PMCID: PMC1506284  PMID: 6790015

Abstract

The acquisition of group B streptococci by babies in a special-care baby unit and two postnatal wards was investigated over a six-month period using serology and phage typing. Sixty-three culture-positive babies were identified in the postnatal wards, one-third of whom had been born to mothers who were not carrying the organism in the genital tract or anorectal area during labour. A non-maternal source was identified for 14 of these 21 infants: either colonised mothers and babies in the same ward or, on one occasion, a member of the hospital staff. In the special-care baby unit, however, only one instance of nosocomial acquisition of group B streptococci was recorded despite a high prevalence of colonisation in the staff on the unit and the presence of heavily colonised babies. The results of this survey suggest that although sepsis caused by group B streptococci may be the result of nosocomial transmission, this may be prevented by careful attention to hygiene.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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