An effective program for reducing group A streptococcal prevalence

A relatively simple and inexpensive streptococcal control program was applied to two school populations located in an area of high endemicity in Colorado. Throat cultures were obtained from children admitting sore throat and from a small, continuously rotating random sample of the student body. This method of surveillance provided a reliable index of total streptococcal incidence in the two schools. Children with Group A positive cultures sought consultation with private physicians on a voluntary basis. The application of these sampling procedures resulted in a reduction of prevalence rates to less than 5%. Comparable endemic prevalence rates observed in school children in three other Colorado communities averaged 21.9%. The program described is practical and effective in substantially lowering the incidence of Group A infections and reducing risk to development of nonsuppurative sequelae.