Prevalence of group B beta-hemolytic streptococci in the male urethra.

To evaluate the carrier rate of group B beta-hemolytic streptococci in males, we studied urethral swabs collected from 116 venereal disease (V.D.) clinic patients and 90 medical students. The prevalence rates for colonization in these groups were 8.6 and 2.2% respectively (statistically significant difference). The colonization rate in V.D. patients was higher in those with gonococcal infection than in those without but the difference was not statistically significant. Rates in patients with and without urethral symptoms were the same.