Holmberg S D, Faich G A
JAMA. 1983 Nov 4;250(17):2307-12.
A comprehensive survey of physicians, laboratories, and hospital records in Rhode Island showed that more than 157,000 throat cultures for a population of 930,000 people were done in 1980. Eighty-seven percent of primary care physicians prescribed antibiotic therapy before culture results were known, and almost 40% continued antibiotic therapy for ten days regardless of culture results. The throat culture positivity rate for beta-hemolytic Streptococcus was 17% statewide in 1980. Only three definite and seven possible cases of acute rheumatic fever were identified by hospital chart reviews and a physician survey covering the five years 1976 through 1980. Current throat culture practices probably have little influence on treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis and control of rheumatic fever in the state.
对罗德岛州的医生、实验室和医院记录进行的一项全面调查显示，1980年，在93万人口中进行了超过15.7万次咽喉培养。87%的初级保健医生在培养结果出来之前就开了抗生素治疗，近40%的医生无论培养结果如何都持续进行了十天的抗生素治疗。1980年，全州β溶血性链球菌咽喉培养阳性率为17%。通过对1976年至1980年这五年的医院病历审查和医生调查，仅发现了三例确诊和七例可能的急性风湿热病例。目前的咽喉培养做法可能对该州链球菌性咽炎的治疗和风湿热的控制影响很小。
