An improved selective broth, colistin, oxolinic acid, Todd Hewitt broth (COTHB) for the isolation of Streptococcus pyogenes and other streptococci from swabs is described. Staphylococci, coryneforms and Gram negative organisms are inhibited in COTHB inoculated with swabs from skin lesions. Streptococcus pyogenes could be detected by a fluorescent antibody method and by the Streptex and Phadebact streptococcal grouping methods after 6 and 24 h incubation. Other streptococci of groups B, C and G, were also detected. Streptex was the most sensitive and specific method for the detection of streptococci of groups A, B, C, and G in this broth. The method detected 78% of these streptococci in COTHB after 6 h incubation and 93% after 24 h incubation. Of the Strep. pyogenes isolated, 82% were detected in the broth by the Streptex method.