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Streptococcal infections among children in a residential home: II. Potential sources of infection for individuals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

Margaret C. Holmes ,
R. E. O. Williams ,
C. V. Bloom ,
Ann Hirch ,
Ann Lermit  and
Eileen Woods
Margaret C. Holmes
Affiliation:
Streptococcus Reference Laboratory, Public Health Laboratory Service, Colindale, London, N.W. 9
R. E. O. Williams
Affiliation:
Streptococcus Reference Laboratory, Public Health Laboratory Service, Colindale, London, N.W. 9
C. V. Bloom
Affiliation:
Dr Barnardo's Homes, Barkingside, Essex
Ann Hirch
Affiliation:
Streptococcus Reference Laboratory
Ann Lermit
Affiliation:
Streptococcus Reference Laboratory
Eileen Woods
Affiliation:
Streptococcus Reference Laboratory
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1. For each case of streptococcal illness—sore throat, otitis, or other respiratory tract illness—observed in a 30-month study in a large children's home an attempt was made to enumerate the infected contacts from whom the infection might have been derived.

2. Of 459 illnesses, 10·5% seemed to be relapses of a previous illness, and in 10·0% the child was known to have been carrying streptococci for more than 7 days before sickening, so that the causal relation of the streptococcus is in doubt.

3. Of the 365 other illnesses, 31·5% could be attributed with varying degrees of confidence to infection from one specified carrier, 36·8% could have been derived from one or more recognized contacts although there was not sufficient evidence to specify one in particular. For 17·5% no infected contacts were recognized, but infection with the particular streptococcus was known to be present in the community; and for 9·3% there were no contacts and the streptococcus was not known to be present in the Village.

4. Of the ninety-four illnesses for which the source could be specified as one particular carrier, 66% were derived from heavy nasal, 19% from light nasal, and 15% from throat carriers. Persons incubating a streptococcal illness and healthy carriers were each responsible for 31% of the illnesses and convalescent carriers for 38%.

5. It seemed that at least 50% of all illnesses could have been contracted from contacts within the cottage; the proportion due to school infection was much more difficult to estimate but was at least 12%.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 56 , Issue 1 , March 1958 , pp. 62 - 72
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1958

References

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