Balanitis Caused by Group B Streptococcus

Lucks, David A.
Venezio, Frank R.
Lakin, Charles M.

From the Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood
Department of Surgery, Section of Urology, Oak Park, Illinois

^*Requests for reprints: Section of Infectious Diseases, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, 2160 South First Ave., Maywood, Illinois 60153.

Accepted January 20, 1986.

Journal of Urology 135(5):p 1015, May 1986. | DOI: 10.1016/S0022-5347(17)45963-5

ABSTRACT

The Lancefield group B streptococcus is a cause of serious genitourinary tract infections in peripartum women. However, it rarely has been implicated as a pathogen in genital infections of male subjects. We report severe recurrent balanitis owing to group B streptococcus in a sexually active young man. Group B streptococcus was cultured from the vagina of his asymptomatic consort on 1 occasion. It is postulated that penile cellulitis developed by invasion of group B streptococcus through a traumatic abrasion acquired during sexual intercourse. The preferred antibiotic treatment for balanitis caused by group B streptococcus is penicillin or erythromycin. Prevention of additional episodes may be difficult, since therapy of the female carrier state with antibiotics has not provided long-term eradication of group B streptococcus.