Streptococcal pharyngitis and acute rheumatic fever in Rhode Island

Abstract

A comprehensive survey of physicians, laboratories and hopsital records in Rhode Island showed that > 157,000 throat cultures for a population of 930,000 people were done in 1980. Of primary care physicans, 87% prescribed antibiotic therapy before culture results were known, and almost 40% continued antibiotic therapy for 10 days regardless of culture results. The throat culture positivity rate for .beta.-hemolytic Streptococcus was 17% statewide in 1980. Only 3 definite and 7 possible cases of acute rheumatic fever were identified by hospital chart reviews and a physician survey covering the 5 yr, 1976-1980. Current throat culture practices probably have little influence on treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis and control of rheumatic fever in the state.