Anal Carrier Rate of Group A Beta-Hemolytic Streptococci in Children With Streptococcal Pharyngitis

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine the frequency of anal cultures positive for group A beta-hemolytic streptococci in children with acute pharyngitis whose throat cultures were positive for group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. Only 6% of the patients screened had positive anal cultures and none of these children had a history of recurrent streptococcal pharyngitis. This rate does not warrant routinely obtaining anal cultures from children with group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis.