Subpreputial carriage of aerobic micro-organisms and balanitis.

Men attending a genitourinary medicine clinic had an appreciably higher prevalence of subpreputial infection with group B streptococci (GBS) than with Staphylococcus aureus or coliform bacilli. Carriage of GBS was similar in older and younger age groups and was higher in homosexuals than heterosexuals and in those with balanitis than those without. Thus, while GBS may cause balanitis in heterosexuals, sexual transmission is unimportant; in contrast sexual transmission of GBS may be more common among homosexuals but balanitis is rare.