Prevalence of Group A Streptococcal Carriage Rate in Asymptomatic Children
Introduction: Streptococcus pyogenes is a Gram positive cocci causing respiratory infections commonly in children. Throat carriers are children in whom the organism is isolated from throat swab specimens in the absence of symptoms. This study was conducted in the institution to screen children f...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JCDR Research and Publications Pvt. Ltd.
2019-04-01
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| Series: | National Journal of Laboratory Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.njlm.net/articles/PDF/2332/39955_CE[Ra1]_F(AC)_PF1(A_SHU)_PFA(NC)_PF2(NV_AC)_PN(SHU).pdf |
| Summary: | Introduction: Streptococcus pyogenes is a Gram positive
cocci causing respiratory infections commonly in children.
Throat carriers are children in whom the organism is isolated
from throat swab specimens in the absence of symptoms. This
study was conducted in the institution to screen children for the
detection of pharyngeal carriage rate of Group A Streptococci
(GAS) and to compare the efficiency of two different methods
for the diagnosis of S.pyogenes.
Aim: To study the prevalence of Group A Streptococcal carriage
rate in throat swabs of children.
Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study conducted
from March 2018-June 2018 (4 months) on 100 asymptomatic
children attending the Pedodontics OPD of a self financing
Dental College and Hospital. Two throat swabs were collected
for bacteriological culture and rapid strip testing for detection of
S.pyogenes was done.
Results: Out of 100, 64 children (64%) were found to be in the
age group between 6-10 years. Fourteen (14%) of the children
showed growth of Streptococcus pyogenes on culture and 18
of them (18%) were positive by the rapid test method. Rapid
test strips were found to be 85.7% sensitive and 93% specific
for the detection of GAS carriage.
Conclusion: Determination of carrier rate is important though
there are no recommended guidelines for aggressive treatment
of carriers. Throat culture remains the gold standard investigation
for isolation of Streptococcus pyogenes, but Rapid antigen
detection kits have proved to be valuable as a point of care test
for rapid diagnosis. |
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| ISSN: | 2277-8551 2455-6882 |