Throat Culture Test Research Articles

Efficiency of Rapid Antigen Test in Diagnosis of Acute Streptococcal Tonsillopharyngitis

Objective: Group A beta hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS) is the most common bacterial cause of acute tonsillopharyngitis. Cases with bacterial infection suspicion should undergo rapid antigen test (RAT) and/or throat culture test in addition to clinical criteria, since it may lead to serious complications.Method: A total of 220 adult and pediatric patients admitted to the emergency department between April-May 2016 with complaints of fever and sore throat, and diagnosed as acute tonsillopharyngitis were prospectively enrolled to the study. All participants had Centor score ≥2 and they underwent RAT. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of RAT results of both groups were compared. Throat culture was considered as gold standard method.Results: Mean age of the study population was 22,5±16,9 (1-72) years. 57% (n=61) of the pediatric group, and 42.5% (n=48) of adult group were male. Sensitivity of RAT in adults and pediatric group was 62% vs. 57%, and specificity of the test was 96% vs. 97%, PPV was 55% vs. 80%, and NPV was 97% vs. 93%, respectively.Conclusion: We found low sensitivity and PPV values of RAT. Also, low levels of sensitivity decrease the possibility of RAT to be a diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of GABHS.

Clinical Signs and Diagnostic Tests in Acute Respiratory Infections

ObjectivesTo evaluate clinical manifestations of acute respiratory system infectious diseases and specific tests for causative agents in pediatric patients.MethodsThe authors evaluated children aged 0–16 y with clinical symptoms of acute respiratory tract infections who were administered rapid strep A test and/or throat culture test and/or respiratory viral panel test, from February 2012 through January 2013 at pediatric department of Acıbadem Maslak Hospital, Turkey.ResultsA total of 1654 patients were evaluated; 45.9 % were girls, 54.1 % were boys. Absence of cough and presence of headache were higher in the patients >6 y of age (p 0.0001, p 0.002 respectively). Positive respiratory viral panel test was higher in the patients <2 y of age (p 0.002). Both positive rapid strep A test and positive throat culture test were higher in the patients >6 y of age (p 0.0001). Positivity of rapid strep A or throat culture test were not observed in children <2 y of age.ConclusionsA clinician should mostly consider viral infections in the etiology of acute respiratory infections in children under 2 y of age and there is no need to rush for the use antibiotherapy. Bacterial etiology should be frequently considered after 6 y of age and rapid use of antibiotheraphy is essential to avoid the complications.