Asymptomatic pharyngeal carriage of beta-haemolytic streptococci and streptococcal pharyngitis among patients at an urban hospital in Croatia

Abstract

In a one-year study at the University Hospital of Infectious Diseases in Zagreb, Croatia the rate of asymptomatic throat carriage of beta-haemolytic streptococci was investigated. Throat carriage was investigated in 1796 patients, none of whom had a sore throat nor signs and/or symptoms of a respiratory tract infection. The carrier rate of beta-haemolytic streptococci was 8.3%, for group A streptococci 6%, group B 1.3%, group C 0.3% and group F 0.1%. The highest rate was observed in the 6 to 14 year age group: 13.8% for all streptococcal groups, 11.7% for group A alone. The proportion of non-A streptococci was higher in older age groups. Tonsillectomised individuals were less frequently carriers. No sex or season-dependent variations were observed. In a four-month study of 629 patients with pharyngitis the throat cultures yielded: group A streptococci in 44.7%, group B in 1.7%, group C in 0.8%, and group G in 0.6% of the patients. Group A streptococci in 44.7%, group B in 1.7%, group C in 0.8%, and group G in 0.6% of the patients. Group A streptococcal rates in carriers compared to rates in patients with pharyngitis suggest that approximately one fourth of the schoolchildren with culture-positive pharyngitis actually are not truly infected, but only carriers currently having a sore throat of non-streptococcal etiology. Antibiotics were administrated to 605 (96.2%) patients with pharyngitis; in 571 (94.4%) of the cases before culture results became available. After culture-negative results were obtained the therapy was discontinued in only 28.5% of the cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The prevalence of beta-haemolytic streptococci in throat specimens from healthy children and adults: Implications for the clinical value of throat cultures

“…Some studies (3,5,12) have reported no seasonal variation in prevalence of BHS in healthy individuals, but no comparison of prevalence of BHS in age-matched patients was done.…”

“…However, not all patients with a positive microbiological test for GABHS and symptoms from the throat have a GABHS-caused tonsillopharyngitis. Some of these patients may have a virus infection and are only carriers of GABHS (1,(3)(4)(5). and may not benefit from treatment with antibiotics at that time (4,6).…”

Antistreptolysin O (ASO) titers and beta-haemolytic streptococcus (BHS) in Children in Calabar, Nigeria.

“…Group C and G Streptococci are reportedly common causes of tonsillitis or pharyngitis in both adults and children in tropical countries [8,9,11] while group A is common in the temperate countries [29]. Other streptococcal groups of D, F and G isolated in this study have previously been implicated in tonsillitis [30]. [31] isolated streptococci groups A, B, C, G and a group called non-group A, B, C, D. This latter group may be likened to the UID group in our study.…”

Antibiotic Resistance Patterns and Related Mobile Genetic Elements of Pneumococci and β-Hemolytic Streptococci in Thai Healthy Children

“…The previous studies reported carrier rates of pneumococci in children as 2-10 % in Italy, 21-23 % in the USA, 20-70 % in Asia [25] and for the carrier rates of BHS: 8 % in Croatia and 16 % in India [26,27]. One meta-analysis study reported that the pool prevalence of group A streptococcus (GAS) carriage in children of all ages was 12 % (95 % CI 9-14 %) [28].…”