Talk:Streptococcus agalactiae

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Streptococcus Agalactiae
Scientific classification
Binomial name
Streptococcus Agalactiae

Description and significance

Streptococcus Agalactiae, also known as Group B streptococci are gram positive cocci that range from 0.6 to 1.2 um. These cocci arrange themselves in chains, forming shorter chains in clinical specimens and longer chains in a culture specimen. They are distinguished from other streptococci by the presence of the group B antigen.

S. agalactiae colonizes in a woman’s vaginal and gastrointestinal tracts in a commensal relationship that is present in 25-40% of healthy women. When the organism is introduced to a weakened or susceptible host (including individuals with compromised immunity and newborns), S. Agalactiae causes bacterial sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis in newborns and can also cause postpartum infection, neonatal sepsis and other infections in infected hosts.