Colonisation rates of Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus in the oropharynx of a young adult population

Abstract

There are very few reports on the rates of oropharyngeal colonisation by Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus in young adults. The present study found colonisation rates of 9.6% and 26.2%, respectively. These rates are two-fold higher than historical rates, indicating that these organisms may be more prevalent than thought previously. This finding may have important clinical consequences in certain populations, and requires further investigation. © 2005 Copyright by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.