The frequency of group A beta hemolytic streptococci (AGBHS) growing in throat cultures by years

Streptococci are quite widely encountered microorganisms in nature. They cause various suppurative diseases in humans and animals. Studies conducted in our country on streptococci have been continuously on the agenda because of sporadic epidemics. The fact that the AGBHS infections have been more frequently diagnosed among children necessitates effective therapies against these diseases. This study aims at determining the annual frequency of AGBHS cultivated in throat cultures of patients received at the Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Dursun Odabaşı Medical Centre in the 2012-2016 period with sore throat complaints. Oropharyngeal swabs have been obtained from patients for the purpose of bacteriological culture and diagnosis. These samples have been cultivated on 5 % sheep blood agar medium. Following 18-24 hours of 37°C incubation under aerobic conditions, Gram staining from colonies making beta-haemolysis have been evaluated as Gram positive; and catalase test negative colonies as beta-haemolytic streptocci. 211 instances of AGBHS have been found in the throat cultures among the 1820 patients admitted in the study, of which 1012 are male and 808 are female. In the study, AGBHS have been discovered in 44 patients in 2012, 60 patients in 2013, 37 patients in 2014, 50 patients in 2015, and 20 patients in 2016. AGBHS is an important public health problem in children, unless treated may present various complications in the future. This study's conclusion shows that AGBHS rates are falling annually. This demonstrates us that the public have gained consciousness in public health and developed and rapid diagnosis tests get these microorganisms effectively under control. Key Words: AGBHS, Throat Culture, Annual Rates