The prevalence of beta-haemolytic streptococci in throat specimens from healthy children and adults. Implications for the clinical value of throat cultures.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the influence of age and season of the year on the carrier rate of beta-haemolytic streptococci (BHS) in healthy individuals and patients with throat pain.


METHODS
The prevalence of BHS in throat specimens from healthy individuals was compared with that from patients with throat pain of the same age in a defined geographical area, collected during the same mid-winter and late summer periods.


RESULTS
The prevalence of BHS in healthy individuals was low before the age of 3 years (1.9-7.1%) and in adults > or = 16 years (2.4-3.7%) and highest in the age group 3-15 years (5.0-21.2%). The difference in prevalence of BHS between healthy individuals and patients with throat pain was small during the late summer season and large during the mid-winter season.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of BHS varies with age and season in healthy individuals and patients with throat pain. During the summer, it is much more difficult to interpret the result of a throat culture in individuals aged < 16 years.
Gunnarsson
R K
RK
Department of Primary Health Care, Göteborg University, Sweden.
Holm
S E
SE
Söderström
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D012703:Serotyping; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*