Prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in patients with sore throat

From 361 females and 452 males (527 primary care out-patients and 286 in-patients) a total of 813 throat swabs were examined for bacterial pathogens by conventional bacteriological techniques. Beta-haemolytic streptococci were grouped by the coagglutination method. Throat swabs from 14% of males and 15.6% of females were positive for bacterial pathogens; 75 (64% specimens grew BHS group A. All age groups of both sexes yielded a similar proportion of organisms. All pathogens were sensitive to penicillin, erythromycin and cephradine.