FACTORS AFFECTING THE INCIDENCE OF GROUP A Β-HEMOLYTIC STREPTOCOCCI ISOLATED FROM THROAT CULTURE

Abstract

Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) rank first among bacterial factors causing tonsillopharyngitis. These bacteria are especially common in school-age groups. The incidence increases in winter and seasonal transitions. In this study, we aim to examine the presence of GABHS in throat swab samples of people from different age groups. Therefore, we identified the reproductive frequency of GABHS in the throat culture of patients admitted with tonsillopharyngitis from 2017 to 2019 and then detected differences in the infection across age groups, months, and seasons. It was found that 8.1%, 52.4%, 21.5%, and 11.0% of isolated factors were in the age groups of 0-2, 3-6, 7-9, and 10-14, respectively. Particularly, in the 3-14 age group, the number of cases accounts for 84.9% of the total number of cases. The highest rate of infection was observed in children aged 3-6 years, and the infection was quite high in the spring (34.5%) and winter (29%). Regarding the distribution of the factor across clinics, the Department of Pediatrics was the first, and the Department of Pediatric Nephrology and Rheumatology was the second. In conclusion, controlling the spread of infections at school age is of great importance as GABHS has increased over the years.

Keywords

• Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci
• Incidence
• School children
• Tonsillopharyngitis

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