The incidence of group a beta hemolytic streptococci in throat specimens from upper respiratory infections.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study is researching the incidence of group A beta hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) in upper respiratory tract infections in Turkey.


METHODS
This is a descriptive study.


METHODS
Totally, 3964 throat swabs obtained from patients with upper respiratory tract infections were cultured for isolation of GABHS in Corlu Military Hospital, Department of Microbiology, between April 2002 and April 2004. Standard microbiological techniques were used in the screening.


RESULTS
In this study, GABHS were isolated from 230 (5.80%) of 3964 patients. The rate of isolation was 79 (5.65%)/914 in 2002 year, 103 (5.55%)/1857 in 2003 year, and 48 (6.77%)/709 in 2004 year. The rate of isolation was 50 (5.47%)/914 in the spring, 21 (3.21%)/642 in the summer, 49 (5.81%)/844 in the autumn, and 110 (7.03%)/1564 in the winter.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that the overall incidence of GABHS in respiratory tract infections (5.80%) was lower than other studies and the incidence was the highest in the winter.
Sevinc
Irfan
I
Maresal Cakmak Military Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey.
Enoz
Murat
M
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology