title: Group A streptococcal throat colonization is a dynamic phenomenon.
abstract: In order to gain knowledge about the nature of group A streptococcal throat colonization of asymptomatic children, we studied a cohort of healthy children selected at random. Those with throat cultures positive for group A Streptococci (GAS) were followed for 5 weeks. Repeat throat swabs were obtained at weekly intervals for antigen detection and culture. GAS obtained were serotyped for T antigen. Twenty-two children were identified as having GAS and 50% had a positive antigen test and culture at least five times in 6 weeks. There was no consistent pattern in the typeable organisms. Most individuals had more than one T-type alternating with non-T-typeable organisms. We conclude that colonization may be a dynamic process involving numerous organism serotypes, which wax and wane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. KDawson@uaeu.ac.ae
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nsanze
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ameen
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mustafa
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D012703:Serotyping; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial