Types of Hemolytic Streptococci in New Haven *

Studies in this laboratory for the past several years have been focused on the epidemiology of hemolytic streptococcal disease in New Haven. Attention is being given to the incidence and possible clinical and epidemiological significance of the various serological types of hemolytic streptococci recovered from residents of this city. Current experience indicates that in a city of some 160,000 individuals, such as New Haven, only a few of Griffith's serological types are important as a cause of disease during a given year or perhaps over a period of several years. It is for this reason that we have recently completed the typing of strains of hemolytic streptococci which were recovered from more than a hundred children from August 1, 1939, to August 1, 1940. Data for the succeeding three years are being compiled and the purpose of this paper is to record the types of hemolytic streptococci found in this city during the streptococcal season of 1939-1940.