Non-group A streptococci in the pharynx
Article Abstract:
Beta-hemolytic streptococci (BHS) from group A commonly causes pharyngitis (sore throat) in children. Although BHS group A is usually isolated from the throats of symptomatic children, it is also found in some healthy children without sore throats. The test commonly used to detect group A BHS does not detect non-group A BHS organisms, which have also been isolated from the throats of children with pharyngitis. The cause of pharyngitis can not be confirmed by the presence of group A BHS in the throats of symptomatic children because sore throat can also be caused by a co-existing viral infection. A sensitive culture technique was used to determine the prevalence of BHS in 150 children with sore throats and 150 asymptomatic children, who were studied over a 20-month period. Group A BHS was detected in 39 percent of the children with symptoms and 16 percent of healthy children. Non-group A BHS was detected in 17 percent of the children with pharyngitis and 21 percent of the healthy children. The prevalence of non-group A BHS increased with age in symptomatic and asymptomatic children. Therefore, non-group A BHS has similar isolation rates in both groups of children. These results do not support the theory that non-group A BHS can cause periodic pharyngitis in children. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: American Journal of Diseases of Children
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0002-922X
Year: 1989
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Explanation for false-positive urine cultures obtained by bag technique
Article Abstract:
Infant urine samples collected via the bag technique may be contaminated from bacteria present on the skin around the urethra. The bag technique involves the placement of a urine bag over the infant's genitalia to collect urine for bacterial culture. Researchers cultured specimens from the skin around the urethra of 98 newborns and took urine samples from the infants using the bag technique. Cultures of urine samples from 21 infants were positive for disease-producing bacteria. Of these, the results were accurate in only five cases. In 95% of the bacterially-contaminated urine specimens, the same bacterium was cultured from the skin around the urethra. In the bag urine samples that revealed no evidence of disease-producing bacteria, none of the urethral skin samples yielded bacteria. Disease-producing bacteria were found on 33% of female newborns and 8% of male newborns.
Publication Name: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 1072-4710
Year: 1995
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Optical immunoassay for rapid detection of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci: should culture be replaced?
Article Abstract:
It appears that the optical immunoassay rapid antigen test (OIA) is reasonably accurate but may require a follow-up culture test in patients with a negative OIA. The OIA is a screening test for a bacteria that causes sore throats, group A B-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS). Researchers compared the accuracy of OIA screening tests against two standard culture tests on 262 children with suspected GABHS infections. Culture tests were positive for GABHS in 62 patients while only 48 of these samples gave positive results with OIA. There were 14 false negative results and one false positive result with OIA. The two culture tests gave equally accurate results in 200 samples.
Publication Name: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 1072-4710
Year: 1996
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