An effective program for reducing group A streptococcal prevalence

A relatively simple and inexpensive streptococcal control program was applied to two school populations located in an area of high endemicity in Colorado. Throat cultures were obtained from children admitting sore throat and from a small, continuously rotating random sample of the student body. This...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pediatrics (Evanston) 1971-10, Vol.48 (4), p.566-572
Main Authors: Zimmerman, R A, Biggs, B A, Bolin, R A, Wilson, E, Mathews, J H, Cropp, C B, Auernheimer, A H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Antibodies - analysis
Child
Colorado
Female
Health Education
Hemagglutination Tests
Humans
Male
Pharynx - microbiology
Respiratory Tract Infections - epidemiology
Respiratory Tract Infections - etiology
Respiratory Tract Infections - immunology
Respiratory Tract Infections - microbiology
Respiratory Tract Infections - prevention & control
School Health Services
Streptococcal Infections - epidemiology
Streptococcal Infections - immunology
Streptococcal Infections - prevention & control
Streptococcus - isolation & purification
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A relatively simple and inexpensive streptococcal control program was applied to two school populations located in an area of high endemicity in Colorado. Throat cultures were obtained from children admitting sore throat and from a small, continuously rotating random sample of the student body. This method of surveillance provided a reliable index of total streptococcal incidence in the two schools. Children with Group A positive cultures sought consultation with private physicians on a voluntary basis. The application of these sampling procedures resulted in a reduction of prevalence rates to less than 5%. Comparable endemic prevalence rates observed in school children in three other Colorado communities averaged 21.9%. The program described is practical and effective in substantially lowering the incidence of Group A infections and reducing risk to development of nonsuppurative sequelae.
ISSN:0031-4005
1098-4275
DOI:10.1542/peds.48.4.566