Efficacy and Cost Benefits of Rapid Antigen Detection Test for Group A Streptococci Obtained from Acute Pharyngitis in Children

Group A streptococcus (GAS) is an important cause of acute pharyngitis. We investigated the positive rate of GAS tests and clinical viral features in children with acute pharyngitis. A retrospective review was conducted for patients <15 years old with both rapid antigen detection test (RADT) and throat culture results. Patients were excluded if they were diagnosed with influenza or had received antibiotics within two weeks before these tests. A total of 377 patients were eligible. The median age of patients was 3.5 years, and 45.4% of total patients were <3 years old. Among all patients, 68.7% had at least one viral feature, and 39% had more than two. The overall positiv rate for GAS was 11.4%. The GAS positive rate was significantly lower in patients <3 years old than in older patients (1.8% vs. 19.4%, p < 0.0001). The overall sensitivity and specificity of RADT were 75.0% (95% CI: 57.8–87.9) and 97.9% (95% CI: 95.8–99.2), respectively. The GAS positive rate was not significantly different between patients with and without viral features (12.4% vs. 9.3%, p = 0.4854). In patients aged 3–14 years, the GAS positive rate was not associated with the modified Centor score or the frequency of clinical viral features. Despite a low prevalence of GAS pharyngitis, testing for GAS was frequently performed in children <3 years old in this study. Appropriate use of laboratory testing for GAS pharyngitis and judicious prescription of antibiotics were imperative.

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Role of Non-Group A Streptococci in Acute Pharyngitis

The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine ◽

10.3122/jabfm.2009.06.090035 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 663-669 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

J. Tiemstra ◽

R. L. F. Miranda

Keyword(s):

Group A Streptococci ◽

Acute Pharyngitis ◽

Group A

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Rapid antigen detection test for group A streptococcus in children with pharyngitis

10.1002/14651858.cd010502 ◽

2013 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jérémie F Cohen ◽

Robert Cohen ◽

Martin Chalumeau

Keyword(s):

Group A Streptococcus ◽

Antigen Detection ◽

Rapid Antigen Detection Test ◽

Group A

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ERYTHROMYCIN PROPIONATE AND POTASSIUM PENICILLIN V IN THE TREATMENT OF GROUP A STREPTOCOCCAL PHARYNGITIS

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.31.1.22 ◽

1963 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 22-28

Author(s):

Maxwell Stillerman ◽

Stanley H. Bernstein ◽

Martha Smith ◽

Jack D. Gorvoy

Keyword(s):

Relative Effectiveness ◽

Streptococcal Pharyngitis ◽

Group A Streptococci ◽

Cure Rate ◽

Acute Pharyngitis ◽

Penicillin V ◽

Daily Dose ◽

Group A ◽

Potassium Penicillin

The relative effectiveness of erythromycin propionate and K penicillin V in two dosage schedules was evaluated in the treatment of 261 cases of acute pharyngitis from which Group A hemolytic streptococci were recovered from December, 1958, to June, 1959. Erythromycin propionate, in a daily dose of 30 mg/kg up to 1.0 gm, and K penicillin V, in daily doses of 375 mg and 750 mg, were administered orally for 10 days. The adjusted bacterial cure rate was 78% among 86 patients treated with erythromycin, 72% among 102 patients treated with K penicillin V, 375 mg, and 88% among 73 patients treated with K penicillin V, 750 mg. The data indicate that K penicillin V was more effective in eradicating Group A streptococci from the pharynx in a daily dose of 750 mg than 375 mg, and suggest that erythromycin propionate in the dosage used, was less effective than K penicillin V, 750 mg, but equally as effective as K penicillin V, 375 mg daily. The incidence, time of occurrence, and results of retreatments of bacterial relapses are presented, and two possible causes of relapses are considered.

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