Human Hemolytic Streptococci From Diseases of Children

Lancefield1has demonstrated that hemolytic streptococci can be divided into distinct groups by means of a precipitin test which identifies specific carbohydrates. Strains from human disease were observed to fall into one group, which she designated as group A.2Her groups B, C, D, E, F and G consisted of animal strains and human saprophytes.3 With the wider employment of the Lancefield group precipitin test, some exceptions have appeared. Hemolytic streptococci of groups other than A have been found in association with infection, even fatal infection, in man. Hare4and Fry5isolated group B hemolytic streptococci from a total of 11 patients with puerperal sepsis; in 4 of the 5 patients who died of the infection the organisms were recovered from the blood. Hare4found that Griffith's6type 7 hemolytic streptococcus, recovered from human erysipelas, fell into Lancefield's group C. Plummer7classified