[The incidence of group A beta haemolytic streptococci in upper respiratory tract infections in Erzurum].
OBJECTIVE
The incidence of group A beta hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) in upper respiratory tract infections in Erzurum was investigated.


METHODS
In this descriptive study throat swabs were obtained from 4112 patients (1989 males, 2123 females; mean age 21+/-1.5 years; range 14 to 46 years) with upper respiratory tract infections in Erzurum, Turkey between January 2006 and December 2006 and they were cultured for isolation of GABHS.


RESULTS
In this study GABHS were isolated in 268 (6.51%) of patients. Group A beta hemolytic streptococci were isolated in 51 of 941 patients (5.42%) in the spring, in 23 of 592 patients (3.88%) in the summer, in 69 of 968 patients (7.13%) in the autumn, and in 125 of 1611 patients in the winter. Of those patients in whom GABHS were isolated, 128 (6.43%) were male and 140 (6.59%) were female. At Chi square test, (Range for alpha value, p=0.01 and p=0.05) there was a significant difference in the frequency of infection between the seasons (p<0.01). There was no significant difference between men and women with respect to carrier rate (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of GABHS detected in Erzurum was lower than that in other countries. There were statistically significant differences in frequency between the seasons (p<0.01). The highest incidence was in the winter. Low incidence of GABHS in this region may be due to prevention of the colonization because of geographic features, nutritional habits and other factors.
Enöz
Murat
M
Department of Otolaryngology, Yenibosna Safa Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. muratenoz@gmail.com
Sevinç
Irfan
I
Inançli
Hasan Mete
HM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult