The Comparative Effects of Continuous and Intermittent Penicillin Therapy on the Formation of Antistreptolysin in Hemolytic Streptococcal Pharyngitis 1

In the Spring of 1947 an epidemic of streptococ- cal pharyngitis and scarlet fever attacked a large permanent army post 5 numbering about eight thousand troops. A carrier survey just prior to this outbreak had disclosed a high rate (17 per cent) of carriers of beta hemolytic streptococci. Study of these organisms and those isolated from pa- tients during the epidemic revealed that all were of Lancefield Group A. Seven-eighths of those isolated from carriers, and all streptococci isolated from patients, were either type 23 or 19. Infec- tions caused by type 23 predominated and con- stituted about 70 per cent of all cases.