STUDENT HEALTH DIRECTOR FINDS NEW CAUSE OF STREP THROAT

	CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Jan. 3 -- A strain of streptococcal
bacteria, once thought harmless, may indeed cause streptococcal
tonsillitis in college students, according to a study led by Dr.
James Turner, director of the University of Virginia's Department of
Student Health.
	The strain being fingered for responsibility in attacks on
studentsÕ sore throats is Streptococcus equisimilis, a species
belonging to the group C strep family.  The findings are published
in the January edition of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.
	Most of the bacteria that cause strep tonsillitis, or "strep
throat," in the pediatric population -- and can lead to rheumatic
fever, a potentially much more serious condition -- belong to the
group A family. By the time youths reach college age, group A strep
is much less prevalent, responsible for only about 4 or 5 percent of
tonsillitis cases, Turner said.
	That incidence is still enough that student health centers
routinely take throat cultures to test for the bacteria. At U.Va.,
the Elson Student Health Center conducts between 1,500 and 2,000
throat cultures per year.
	"Ten years ago we noticed many students with what appeared
to be strep throat," said Turner.  Doctors ordered throat cultures,
prescribed penicillin and sent the students home to await the
results of the tests, which at that time could take several days.
	Often, the tests showed only the presence of non-group A
strep, representing five or six possible strains of strep previously
considered harmless, Turner said.  But when doctors contacted the
students to give them their test results, they found that the
penicillin prescribed to treat group A strep had apparently been
effective.
	Turner first published a study linking pharyngitis, or sore
throat, to group C strep in 1990, while working as a staff physician
at U.Va.  Prior to then, group C strep was thought to be a normal
inhabitant of the throat.  He expanded upon his work while at the
University of South Carolina before returning to U.Va. as the
director of the Department of Student Health in 1993.
	In the current study, Turner and co-authors Dr. Frederick
Hayden of the Department of Internal Medicine and Dr. Monica Lobo,
Dr. Colin Ramirez and nurse practitioner Deborah Murren of Student
Health demonstrate that one particular group C strain, Streptococcus
equisimilis, is the culprit and causes twice as many cases of strep
throat in college students as the group A strain.
	Streptococcus equisimilis was isolated in the throats of 11
percent of tonsillitis patients, but in 0 percent of patients with
culture-proven colds and 2 percent of healthy control group members.
It was found in "very heavy concentrations" in the tonsillitis
patients compared to the healthy controls, Turner said.
	"If we can prove that treatment cures the infection, then
the way we screen students for tonsillitis is likely to change,"
Turner said. "If weÕre only treating group A, then weÕre only
treating one-third of the potentially curable strep throats.'
	The Elson Center is one of only a handful of other student
health centers nationwide now routinely testing tonsillitis patients
for group C strep. The tests are simple and require only a small
investment in equipment and reagents, Turner said.
	The next step is to pursue clinical trials to prove
penicillinÕs effectiveness in treating group C strep, Turner said.
	Performing clinical research is unusual for a student health
center, Turner said.
	"IÕm pretty familiar with what goes on in student health
centers in this country, and only about 5 percent actively pursue
clinical research."  Most of them -- like the University of Virginia
-- are affiliated with medical schools, Turner said.
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January 2, 1997
	Dr. Turner can be reached directly after Jan. 6 at (804)
924-2670.  Television reporters should call our TV News Office at
(804) 924-7550.