Community-wide outbreak of group G streptococcal pharyngitis.
Although several outbreaks of group G beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GGBHS) pharyngitis have been described, doubt still remains regarding the etiologic role of GGBHS in acute pharyngitis beyond a limited number of situations. In the winter/spring of 1986/87, throat cultures were obtained from 222 consecutive children seen at a private pediatric office with acute pharyngitis and group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) were recovered from 91 children (41%) and GGBHS from 56 children (25%). One patient had both GABHS and GGBHS isolated. This isolation rate of GGBHS was dramatically greater than in previous and subsequent years, and 67% of the GGBHS isolates occurred during an 8-week period. Results of DNA fingerprinting of the 57 isolates of GGBHS demonstrated that 43 (75%) appeared to be the same strain. The patients with GGBHS were comparable to those with GABHS with respect to clinical findings, antistreptolysin-O titer response, and clinical response to antibiotic therapy. However, patients with GGBHS were significantly older (P less than .05). This is the first well-documented, community-wide outbreak of GGBHS pharyngitis and the first respiratory outbreak of GGBHS pharyngitis in a pediatric population. GGBHS may be a more important cause of acute, treatable pharyngitis than had been previously recognized.
Gerber
M A
MA
Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington.
Randolph
M F
MF
Martin
N J
NJ
Rizkallah
M F
MF
Cleary
P P
PP
Kaplan
E L
EL
Ayoub
E M
EM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification