Abstract
The occurrence of septic sore throat and of carriers of Streptococcus epidemicus during inter-epidemic periods has become a matter of importance. Pilot and Davis 1 have recently published results of a study of this subject in Chicago.
It is of interest to note that an epidemic of septic sore throat has never been experienced in Southern California. In so far as can be determined, bacteriological studies for the identification of S. epidemicus have been neglected.
Our investigations over a period of 4 months, have resulted in rather interesting findings. In a group of 250 employees of a local institution, 7 positive cultures of S. epidemicus were obtained from throat swabs. Each individual harboring S. epidemicus was in good health and gave no history of having had sore throat of the epidemic type, but in each instance presented some degree of tonsillar hypertrophy. This represents a carrier group of 2.8%.
In a second group of 66 individuals presenting themselves for operation for hypertrophied tonsils, 6 positive cultures were found. A history of previous attacks of probable septic sore throat was not obtainable. Of these individuals 9% harbored S. epidemicus.
Pilot and Davis have stated that a higher per cent of positives is obtained when cultures are made from depths of tonsil crypts. Our experience confirms this observation.
A positive culture was obtained from a typical clinical case of septic sore throat with marked edema of pharynx and glottis. This case recovered without secondary complications and was the only person in a family of 4 to be stricken.
Two cases of otitis media in children with subsequent mastoiditis were found to be of S. epidenzicus origin.
Among 5 cases of septicemia, all with positive blood cultures, in a hospital lor children, 2 proved to be due to S. epidewzicus.
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