Group B streptococci in the lower urogenital tract and late abortions.

The occurrence of group B streptococci in the lower urogenital tract of 150 women with signs of abortion and 100 women with uncomplicated pregnancy was studied. Group B streptococci appeared significantly more frequently in the urine (p less than 0.001) and in the uterine cervix (p less than 0.01) of women with abortion. Delivery resulted in 85% of patients with group B streptococci in the urine and in 42% of patients with no group B streptococci (p less than 0.001). Group B streptococci were cultured from amniotic fluid from three of eight women with intact membranes and were isolated from the urine and cervix. These bacteria were antibody coated as demonstrated by an immunofluorescence technique. Group B streptococci were recovered from blood or liver in six fetuses, including two who had group B streptococci in the amniotic fluid. The study demonstrates an association between the occurrence of group B streptococci in the urine and cervix and late abortions.