title: Respiratory tract infections at a community care centre--with emphasis on group A streptococci.
abstract: Antibiotics were prescribed for 60% of 1538 patients who consulted a community care centre due to respiratory tract infections. Potential respiratory tract pathogens (betahaemolytic streptococci group A, C, G, Haemophilus influenzae, pneumococci) were isolated from almost half (46%) of the patients. The prescribing of antibiotics was correlated to the isolation of potentially pathogenic bacteria, except for patients with pharyngitis, sinusitis and bronchitis. Betahaemolytic streptococci group A were isolated from 14% of the patients. Recurrence of group A streptococcal infection occurred within 3 months in 24% of patients harbouring such bacteria at the first visit. Poststreptococcal subclinical acute glomerulonephritis (AGN) was diagnosed in 9 (4%) of 220 patients with group A streptococci. The patients with AGN had been treated with antibiotics significantly later than patients without signs of AGN.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents