The throat carrier rate of group A and other beta hemolytic streptococci among patients in general practice.

In a one-year multicenter study in general practice the rate of asymptomatic throat carriage of group A beta hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) was investigated. 2,626 patients, none of whom had had sore throat or any other streptococcal illness during the preceding three months, were evaluated. The GABHS carrier rate was 2.2% with no sex or season dependent variation, and it was 10.9% in patients less than or equal to 14 years of age, 2.3% in patients between 15 and 44 years old, and 0.6% in patients greater than or equal to 45 years old. An additional 7.2% of the patients carried beta hemolytic streptococci of groups B, C, or G. For groups C and G the influence of age on carrier rates was similar to that found for GABHS. Tetracycline resistance was found in 21% of the group A strains, in 61% of the group B strains, and in 28% of the group C and group G strains.