Diagnostics of Streptococcal Infection by Emergency Department Doctors: First Experience of Application of the «Streptatest»

Abstract

The effectiveness of the treatment of acute tonsillitis directly depends on the etiological diagnosis and adherence to the principles of rational etiotropic antibiotic therapy. Currently, streptococcal genesis of inflammation is considered as the only indication for the appointment of systemic antibiotic therapy. The article presents the results of clinical and statistical analysis of calls to patients with acute tonsillitis and express diagnostics of streptococcal infection using «Streptatest». For the period from 30.07.2018 until 30.11.2018 Doctors of the emergency department teams for adults and children performed express diagnostics of group A β-hemolytic streptococcus in 252 patients with acute tonsillitis complaining of «sore throat», whose age ranged from 3 to 44 years. This rapid diagnostic system «Streptatest», based on the method of immunochromatographic analysis, made it possible to identify as early as possible in 117 (46.4%) patients β-hemolytic streptococcus group A and promptly prescribe etiotropic antibiotic therapy to them. The second group consisted of 135 (53.6%) patients with a negative result of the «Streptatest» rapid test. In the group with a positive result of the express test, the main part was made up of children of preschool and school age — 92 (78.6%) patients. In 114 (97.5%) patients with diagnosed group A β-hemolytic streptococcus, clinical symptoms according to the McIsaас modified Centor scale were rated from 3 to 5 points. Early etiological verification of acute tonsillitis made it possible to follow the strategy of preventing the sp read of antimicrobial resistance and reducing the resistance of microorganisms to antibacterial drugs.