Capsule typing and clonal relationships of group B streptococci isolated from male patients diagnosed with urinary tract infection.

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a uropathogen capable of causing urinary tract infections (UTIs), although its role in male patients is not well characterized. This study aimed to investigate the capsule serotypes and clonal relationships of GBS strains isolated from male patients with urinary symptoms. A total of 69 GBS isolates from male patients admitted to Adana City Hospital were analyzed. Capsule serotypes were determined by multiplex PCR (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA), and clonal relationships were assessed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) (Bio-Rad, USA). The most common capsule serotypes identified were Ib (n = 28; 40.6%), V (n = 23; 33.3%), and III (n = 18; 26.1%). All isolates were susceptible to ampicillin and vancomycin. Resistance rates were 69.5% for ciprofloxacin, 30.4% for erythromycin, 24.6% for clindamycin, and 11.5% for tetracycline. PFGE analysis revealed that two isolates from different patients, collected on separate dates, were 100% identical, indicating possible clonal spread. In conclusion, although GBS-related UTIs are uncommon in male patients, the data obtained in this study provide valuable insights for future epidemiological research on GBS in this population.