The serological types of haemolytic streptococci in epidemic scarlatina

Abstract

1. Bight serological types of haemolytic streptococci were recognized in acute scarlatina during the 1933 epidemic in Edinburgh.2. Five of these types were identical with Griffith's types 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, while the remainder have been named, provisionally, B, C and D.3. Type 5 was predominant during the two months preceding the epidemic and throughout the early development of the outbreak.4. The epidemic was maintained by successive increases in the proportion of cases due to the remaining type, particularly type 3.5. The age-group incidence in the epidemic year was identical with that of non-epidemic years.6. 36·8 per cent of patients on discharge were found to have haemolytic streptococci in the throat but in only 5·4 per cent was a large number of organisms isolated.7. Haemolytic streptococci isolated from discharged convalescents were in the majority of cases of the same type as the admission strain.