[Quantitative evaluation of the patterns of the mechanism of pathogenic streptococcal transmission]

In the course of a one week observation in the organized collective body with a daily bacteriological examination for streptococcus group A carrier state 20 infections were recorded per 70 risk man-days. Statistical analysis of conditions for the recipients' infection showed bedrooms to be the main site of streptococcus infection in the organized collective bodies. The most important role in the epidemic process belonged to healthy carriers capable of infecting sensitive recipients, with the potency of microbial foci in the pharynx and the nose of about 1000-2000 microbes per standard tampon. The greatest frequency of infection occured at a distance of from 1 to 1.2 m. Consequently, the main direction of prophylaxis of streptococcus infection at the collective bodies should be associated with measures directed to the source of infection (isolation and penicillin therapy of the patients, urgent antibiotics prophylaxis in case of threatening epidemic or at its initial period).