The Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol 47, Issue 7 649-652, Copyright © 1998 by Society for General Microbiology
Group B streptococcal bacteraemia in the elderly
C. Trivalle, E. Martin, P. Martel, B. Jacque, J. F. Menard and J. F. Lemeland
Service de Medecine Geriatrique, Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire de Rouen, France.
The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the clinical spectrum
of group B streptococcal (GBS) bacteraemia in patients over 70 years old.
Sixty-six adults with GBS bacteraemia were reviewed over a 5-year period.
Disease characteristics, clinical diagnoses and underlying disease were
compared in 33 older patients (mean age 82.4 years) and 33 younger patients
(mean age 54.2 years). The older patients were also compared with a control
group (mean age 81.3 years). Urinary tract infection (39%), skin infection
(33%) and pneumonia (24%) were the most frequent clinical diagnoses in
older patients. Urinary tract infection (39% versus 6%) was significantly
more frequent in older than in younger patients. One underlying disease and
one condition were more frequent in elderly patients: congestive heart
failure (39% versus 6%) and being bedridden (36% versus 0%). A comparison
with the older control group showed that being bedridden was highly
associated with GBS bacteraemia and was an important mortality factor
amongst older patients (10% versus 30%). In conclusion, GBS disease in the
elderly was found to be a severe clinical problem with a high mortality
despite appropriate treatment.
