Serotypes, virulence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Group B Streptococci isolated from infections in non-pregnant adults in Malaysia

Abstract

This is a cross-sectional study describing on Group B Streptococcus (GBS) serotypes, virulence gene distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility in non-pregnant adults from two major hospitals on East-coast Malaysia. The patients’ clinical information was reviewed, while serotyping and virulence gene detection for the GBS isolates (n = 75) were conducted by PCR. GBS serotypes III and Ia were the most common, followed by serotypes II and IV. The majority of GBS (n = 65; 86.7%) presented with virulence genes such as cylE, scpB, lmb, hylE and bca. Skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) (n = 50; 66.7%) were the most common clinical diagnosis, with 90% of those diagnosed had underlying diabetes mellitus (DM). GBS serotype Ia and the virulence genes cylE and scpB were common in SSTI. Good sensitivity towards penicillin, erythromycin and clindamycin were observed.

Keywords

• GBS
• non-pregnant adult
• serotype
• virulence gene
• skin and soft tissue infection