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

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.