Emergence of Invasive Serotype VIII Group B Streptococcal Infections in Denmark

Serotype VIII group B streptococcus has only rarely been described outside Japan. The Streptococcus Unit, Statens Serum Institut, performed national surveillance of invasive group B streptococcal (GBS) diseases in Denmark in 1999 to 2002 and identified seven clinical GBS isolates of serotype VIII in blood from seven patients admitted to different hospitals.