Hemolytic Streptococci in Nashville School Children

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Abstract
Incidence and prevalence of hemolytic and group A streptococci were determined for 3479 school children in Nashville, Tennessee [USA] from 1953-1954 through 1973-1974 inclusive. Of 53,827 throat cultures, 17.98% were positive for hemolytic streptococci and 12.87% for group A; 26.19% of group A strains were typable. Types 6, 1, 12, 4, 5 and 3 were the most frequently isolated. Percentages of children with at least 1 positive culture for hemolytic (H) and group A streptococci (A) were highest in 1953-1954 (H, 79.3%; A, 71.0%); 1963-1964 (H, 83.5%; A, 74.6%); 1969-1970 (H, 74.6%; A, 65.0%) and 1973-1974 (H, 83.1%; A, 71.1%) and highest by month in Feb., declining erratically until the summer. Some children acquired type-specific antibodies in the absence of streptococcal disease. There was a significant increase in positivity rates for hemolytic and group A streptococci from ages 5-7 through age groups 6-8 and 7-9 and a slow decline in the older age groups. Race may not be an important factor in determining positivity rates; rates were significantly higher among children from low socioeconomic areas regardless of whether they were black or white.

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