title: Prevalence and characteristics of pharyngeal group A beta-hemolytic streptococci in US Navy recruits receiving benzathine penicillin prophylaxis.
abstract: US military recruits receive benzathine penicillin prophylaxis because of endemicity of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) infections. GABHS prevalence in Navy recruits receiving single-dose benzathine penicillin prophylaxis was assessed during spring and fall 1989 by culturing throat specimens from randomly selected groups of approximately 230 men before and 2, 4, and 7 weeks after prophylaxis and from men with pharyngitis diagnosed at sick call. Of 60 GABHS isolates, 75% were serotype M-3. The pharyngitis rate increased from 0.18% in the spring to 1.55% in the fall with a concurrent increase in serotype M-3 prevalence from 35% to 91%. The GABHS prevalence rate was three- to fourfold lower after prophylaxis. There were no cases of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) despite predominance of M-3, a rheumatogenic serotype. It was concluded that penicillin prophylaxis continues to be effective for control of GABHS infections and prevention of ARF in Navy recruits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Heggie
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Linz
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boxerbaum
mesh_terms: D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D010401:Penicillin G Benzathine / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000382:microbiology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012703:Serotyping; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D010401:Penicillin G Benzathine