Throat carrier rates of beta-hemolytic streptococci among healthy adults and children.
In order to investigate the carrier rate of beta-hemolytic streptococci throat cultures were obtained every third month from 382 asymptomatic adults and schoolchildren during a 2-year period, altogether 2226 samples. In addition, 300 asymptomatic 4-year-olds were sampled once. The carrier rate of beta-hemolytic streptococci was 19.4%; group A streptococci alone 5.0%. There was no season-dependent variation. In the 3 age groups the carrier rates of group A streptococci were 0.8%, 5.9%, and 11.3%, respectively, with the highest rate among the 4-year-olds. Some of the individuals that were sampled repeatedly seemed to be pharyngeal carriers of group A streptococci, while others never became carriers. Group A streptococci were found significantly more often among 4-year-olds not attending day-care centres compared to those attending such institutions. For group C and G streptococci the influence of age on carrier rates was not similar to that found for group A streptococci. Throat carriership of beta-hemolytic streptococci does not result in clinical infections.
Strömberg
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Department of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Akademiska sjukhuset, Sweden.
Schwan
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A
Cars
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O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013548:Sweden