BACKGROUND: Group B causes morbidity and mortality among newborns, pregnant women, and nonpregnant adults. Among adults, sexual and fecal-oral routes of transmission are hypothesized; this study addresses whether sexual transmission occurs. METHODS: Our outcome of interest was group B. From our investigation of the heterosexual transmission of urinary tract infections among college students at the University of Michigan, conducted in 1996-1999, we identified 120 couples in which one or both partners carried group B. Each partner completed a questionnaire regarding potential risk factors for colonization. RESULTS: Co-colonization with the identical group B strain (as determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) occurred in 86% of the 57 co-colonized couples. When the male sex partner carried group B, 64% of female partners also were colonized; conversely, 49% of male partners of colonized females were colonized with identical strains. Among behaviors predicting co-colonization within the partnership, male-to-female oral sex was a risk factor among both women (odds ratio [OR] = 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2-6.9) and men (OR = 2.5; CI = 1.1-5.6). First sex at age 20 years or older was associated with an increased risk among women (OR = 2.1; CI = 0.7-6.4) and among men (OR = 3.0; CI = 1.0-9.3), and four or more lifetime sex partners was associated with a decreased risk of co-colonization among women (OR = 0.6; CI = 0.2-1.5) and among men (OR = 0.4; CI = 0.2-1.0). CONCLUSIONS: Among heterosexual college couples, sexual activity, particularly male-to-female oral sex, increases the risk of co-colonization with an identical group B strain. Future studies should evaluate the role of the pharynx and examine the effects of both bacterial characteristics and host response on transmission.
BACKGROUND: Group B causes morbidity and mortality among newborns, pregnant women, and nonpregnant adults. Among adults, sexual and fecal-oral routes of transmission are hypothesized; this study addresses whether sexual transmission occurs. METHODS: Our outcome of interest was group B. From our investigation of the heterosexual transmission of urinary tract infections among college students at the University of Michigan, conducted in 1996-1999, we identified 120 couples in which one or both partners carried group B. Each partner completed a questionnaire regarding potential risk factors for colonization. RESULTS: Co-colonization with the identical group B strain (as determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) occurred in 86% of the 57 co-colonized couples. When the male sex partner carried group B, 64% of female partners also were colonized; conversely, 49% of male partners of colonized females were colonized with identical strains. Among behaviors predicting co-colonization within the partnership, male-to-female oral sex was a risk factor among both women (odds ratio [OR] = 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2-6.9) and men (OR = 2.5; CI = 1.1-5.6). First sex at age 20 years or older was associated with an increased risk among women (OR = 2.1; CI = 0.7-6.4) and among men (OR = 3.0; CI = 1.0-9.3), and four or more lifetime sex partners was associated with a decreased risk of co-colonization among women (OR = 0.6; CI = 0.2-1.5) and among men (OR = 0.4; CI = 0.2-1.0). CONCLUSIONS: Among heterosexual college couples, sexual activity, particularly male-to-female oral sex, increases the risk of co-colonization with an identical group B strain. Future studies should evaluate the role of the pharynx and examine the effects of both bacterial characteristics and host response on transmission.
Authors: Stephanie M Borchardt; Betsy Foxman; Donald O Chaffin; Craig E Rubens; Patricia A Tallman; Shannon D Manning; Carol J Baker; Carl F Marrs Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2004-01 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: P Pillai; U Srinivasan; L Zhang; S M Borchardt; J Debusscher; C F Marrs; B Foxman Journal: Epidemiol Infect Date: 2009-03-04 Impact factor: 2.451
Authors: Shannon D Manning; A Cody Springman; Amber D Million; Nicole R Milton; Sara E McNamara; Patricia A Somsel; Paul Bartlett; H Dele Davies Journal: PLoS One Date: 2010-01-20 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Stephanie M Borchardt; Joan H DeBusscher; Patricia A Tallman; Shannon D Manning; Carl F Marrs; Terrence A Kurzynski; Betsy Foxman Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2006-03-20 Impact factor: 3.090