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Abstract
Background
Group A streptococci (GAS) are the most common cause of pharyngitis in children. The streptococci in throat cultures from healthy elementary school children in Jinju were compared with previous results.
Methods
Throat cultures were taken from 1,402 healthy school children in 2006. β-hemolytic streptococci (BHS) were identified with a bacitracin disk (0.04 U) and latex agglutination test (Seroiden Strepto Kit, Eiken, Tokyo, Japan).
Results
Two-hundred sixteen (15.4%) and 149 (10.6%) cultures grew BHS and GAS, respectively. The isolation rate of GAS was significantly lower than in 2004 (16.0%) or 2002 (16.9%) (P＜0.05). Among BHS, the prevalence of group A strains (69.0%) decreased significantly compared with 2004 (84.9%) and 2002 (83.8%) (P＜0.05). None of the 1st-grade children yielded BHS or GAS.
References
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Fig. 1.
Comparison of isolation rates of β-hemolytic streptococci (BHS) and group A streptococci (GAS) in Jinju (P＜0.05).
Table 1.
Β-hemolytic streptococci isolated from elementary school children in Jinju, 2006
| School grade | N | Serogroup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | (%) | B | C | G | ||
| 1 | 94 | 0 | (0) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 78 | 11 | (14.1) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | 91 | 13 | (14.3) | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| 4 | 309 | 38 | (12.3) | 6 | 4 | 5 |
| 5 | 338 | 36 | (10.7) | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| 6 | 492 | 51 | (10.4) | 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Total | 1,402 | 149 | (10.6) | 14 | 30 | 23 |
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