Molecular characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility of hemolytic Streptococcus agalactiae from post-menopausal women.

Purpose: Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B streptococcus, GBS) is increasingly recognized as a pathogen in adult populations, including the elderly. Appropriate treatment involves antibiotics. An alternative to this strategy would be the administration of a polysaccharide vaccine therefore the capsular serotypes and molecular characterization of circulating strains needs to be known.