title: Incidence of beta hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis in adolescent with infectious mononucleosis.
abstract: Reports on the incidence of beta-hemolytic group A streptococci (BHGAS) in the pharynx of patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM) have varied from 3% to 33%. To ascertain the rate of infection, we prospectively performed serial throat cultures and determined anti-streptococcal antibody titers on 45 students with confirmed IM by Epstein-Barr virus-specific serology. One hundred healthy control students had throat cultures for comparison. The rate of recovery of BHGAS was similar in patients with IM (4%) and controls (3%). No students with IM had a fourfold rise of anti-streptococcal antibodies. We conclude that routine culture for BHGAS and/or treatment with antibiotic agents is not indicated in all patients with IM.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial