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Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common causes of hospital-acquired infections. At the same time, 25% of healthy persons are symptom-free S. aureus carriers, and they have an increased risk of developing nosocomial S. aureus septicemia. Paradoxically, their prognosis is much better than that of noncarriers. We compared the antibody profiles for carriers and noncarriers toward S. aureus superantigens. In carriers, we found high titers of neutralizing antibodies specific for those superantigens that are expressed by their colonizing strain. The results show that carriage status confers strain-specific humoral immunity, which may contribute to protection during S. aureus septicemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of a Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) polyribosylribitol phosphate-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (Hib/PRP-T) on oropharyngeal carriage of Hib was studied during an efficacy trial in Gambian infants. Children were vaccinated with Hib/PRP-T and diphtheria-tetanus toxoids-pertussis (DTP) or DTP alone at ages 2, 3, and 4 months. Groups of 1000 children aged 1–2 years were studied each year for 4 years. Hib was detected by production of a halo on antiserum agar plates. Carriage was significantly lower among children fully vaccinated with Hib/PRP-T given with DTP (4.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.8%–5.7%) than among children fully vaccinated with DTP alone (11.0%; 95% CI, 8.9%–13.0%) (protective effect adjusted by year = 60%; 95% CI, 44%–72%; P < .001). Hib carriage varied by year among nonvaccinated children. Hib conjugate vaccines are likely to produce a herd protective effect in underdeveloped communities, as recorded in Europe and the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The prevalence of group B streptococcal (GBS) colonization was studied in 136 pregnant women and their newborn infants by collecting vaginal and rectal swabs from the mothers and throat, rectal, and umbilical swabs from their infants. Maternal and infant colonization rates were 22% and 23%, respectively. One-third of infants born to colonized mothers and 15% of infants born to noncolonized mothers had GBS isolated. Of GBS-colonized infants, 50% remained colonized at the mean age of2 months. Type V was the commonest serotype among GBS isolates from mothers and infants; type III strains were uncommon. The rarity ofGBS disease in Gambian infants may be due to low rates of maternal carriage with the more virulent GBS serotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: The association between childhood diarrheal disease and linear growth faltering in developing countries is well described. However, the impact attributed to specific pathogens has not been elucidated, nor has the impact of recommended antibiotic treatment., Methods: The Global Enteric Multicenter Study enrolled children with moderate to severe diarrhea (MSD) seeking healthcare at 7 sites in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. At enrollment, we collected stool samples to identify enteropathogens. Length/height was measured at enrollment and follow-up, approximately 60 days later, to calculate change in height-for-age z scores (ΔHAZ). The association of pathogens with ΔHAZ was tested using linear mixed effects regression models., Results: Among 8077 MSD cases analyzed, the proportion with stunting (HAZ below -1) increased from 59% at enrollment to 65% at follow-up (P < .0001). Pathogens significantly associated with linear growth decline included Cryptosporidium (P < .001), typical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (P = .01), and untreated Shigella (P = .009) among infants (aged 0-11 months) and enterotoxigenic E. coli encoding heat-stable toxin (P < .001) and Cryptosporidium (P = .03) among toddlers (aged 12-23 months). Shigella-infected toddlers given antibiotics had improved linear growth (P = .02)., Conclusions: Linear growth faltering among children aged 0-23 months with MSD is associated with specific pathogens and can be mitigated with targeted treatment strategies, as demonstrated for Shigella., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.)