Streptococcal pharyngitis and acute rheumatic fever in Rhode Island
S. D. Holmberg and G. A. Faich
A comprehensive survey of physicians, laboratories, and hospital records in
Rhode Island showed that more than 157,000 throat cultures for a population
of 930,000 people were done in 1980. Eighty-seven percent of primary care
physicians prescribed antibiotic therapy before culture results were known,
and almost 40% continued antibiotic therapy for ten days regardless of
culture results. The throat culture positivity rate for beta-hemolytic
Streptococcus was 17% statewide in 1980. Only three definite and seven
possible cases of acute rheumatic fever were identified by hospital chart
reviews and a physician survey covering the five years 1976 through 1980.
Current throat culture practices probably have little influence on
treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis and control of rheumatic fever in
the state.
