scholarly journals Improving antibiotics targeting using PCR point-of-care testing for group A streptococci in patients with uncomplicated acute sore throat

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 76-83
Author(s):  
Ronny K Gunnarsson ◽  
Ulrich Orda ◽  
Bradley Elliott ◽  
Clare Heal ◽  
Hilary Gorges ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sore Throat ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Group A Streptococci ◽  
Point Of Care Testing ◽  
Group A

scholarly journals Point of care testing for group A streptococci in patients presenting with pharyngitis will improve appropriate antibiotic prescription

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Orda ◽  
Biswadev Mitra ◽  
Sabine Orda ◽  
Mark Fitzgerald ◽  
Ronny Gunnarsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Prescription ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Group A Streptococci ◽  
Point Of Care Testing ◽  
Group A

scholarly journals Streptococcal pharyngitis in general practice. 1. Some unusual features of the epidemiology

1992 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Higgins
Keyword(s):  
Sore Throat ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Positive Culture ◽  
Streptococcal Pharyngitis ◽  
Group A Streptococci ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Acute Infections ◽  
Group A ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Highly Correlated

SUMMARYThis report is based on a study of acute infections of the upper respiratory tract in 1965 and detailed records of such infections in 1963 and 1964. A change from illnesses mainly yielding viruses to illnesses mainly yielding group A streptococci was noted around the age of 5 years. A positive culture for group A streptococci in patients over 4 years of age was highly correlated with a complaint of sore throat and with serological evidence of streptococcal infection. A bimodal age distribution curve for pharyngitis associated with a positive culture for group A streptococci was consistently noted. The incidence was highest in children aged 5–9 but a second smaller peak occurred among adults in the 30–39 age group. The evidence suggests that being female increases the risk of acquiring group A streptococci and of experiencing sore throat.

scholarly journals Antibody to streptococcal opacity factor in human sera

1973 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. R. Maxted ◽  
Jean P. Widdowson ◽  
Cherry A. M. Fraser
Keyword(s):  
Sore Throat ◽  
Group A Streptococci ◽  
Close Correspondence ◽  
Human Sera ◽  
Group A

SUMMARYTwo tests are described for detecting antibody to the type-specific opacity factor (OF) of group A streptococci. This antibody was detected among patients convalescent from streptococcal sore throat in two communities in which out-breaks due to opacity factor-producing strains of group A streptococci occurred.In an outbreak due to streptococci of M-type 22 there was a close correspondence between the distribution of anti-OF and of bactericidal M-antibody for the type. In a smaller outbreak due to M-type 58 streptococci, however, M-antibody was detected more often than antibody of OF.

scholarly journals Group A Streptococcus Testing in Pediatrics: the Move to Point-of-Care Molecular Testing

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Z. Thompson ◽  
Allison R. McMullen
Keyword(s):  
Point Of Care ◽  
Streptococcal Pharyngitis ◽  
Molecular Methods ◽  
Multiple Point ◽  
Molecular Testing ◽  
Point Of Care Testing ◽  
Culture Methods ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Molecular Group ◽  
Group A

ABSTRACT Each year, there are an estimated 11 million visits to ambulatory care centers for pharyngitis in children between the ages of 3 and 18 years. While there are many causes of pediatric pharyngitis, group A streptococcal pharyngitis represents 15 to 30% of infections and is the only cause for which treatment is recommended. Unfortunately, clinical suspicion is insufficient for the accurate diagnosis of group A streptococcal pharyngitis, and laboratory testing for confirmation of Streptococcus pyogenes infection is required to prevent complications of infection. Traditionally, throat swabs are inoculated onto agar plates for isolation of the large-zone beta-hemolytic streptococcus. However, traditional culture methods present a potential delay in treatment due to turnaround times of 18 to 48 h. In order to improve turnaround times and enhance antimicrobial stewardship, multiple point-of-care assays have been developed. This review describes current point-of-care testing for group A streptococcal pharyngitis, including rapid antigen detection tests and more recent molecular methods. Additional attention is given to the diagnostic considerations when choosing a method for group A streptococcal point-of-care testing, implementation of molecular group A streptococcal testing, and the institutional cost of immunoassays compared to those of newer molecular methods.

Point-of-Care Testing for Group A Streptococcus Infection and Influenza

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (19) ◽  
pp. 151-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Woo ◽  
Valerie Arboleda ◽  
Omai B. Garner
Keyword(s):  
Group A Streptococcus ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Point Of Care Testing ◽  
Group A

scholarly journals The production of pyrogenic exotoxins by group A streptococci

1985 ◽  
Vol 95 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gillian Hallas
Keyword(s):  
Sore Throat ◽  
Isoelectric Focusing ◽  
Scarlet Fever ◽  
Group A Streptococci ◽  
Polyacrylamide Gels ◽  
Agar Gels ◽  
Group A ◽  
Sporadic Cases ◽  
Spe B ◽  
Lancefield Group

SUMMARYLancefield group A streptococci isolated from recent outbreaks and sporadic cases of scarlet fever were restricted to the following M types 1, 3, 4, 6, 12, 18, 22 and 66. These strains were examined for the presence of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins (SPE) types A, B and C by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels and by immunoprecipitation in agar gels. SPE B was produced by 70% of the strains and SPEC by 40%. SPE A could not be detected in these strains. In contrast, SPE type A was found in 4 of 10 strains, held by the NCTC, that had been isolated before 1940 from patients with scarlet fever. Nine of 12 recent isolates from patients with sore throat uncomplicated by a rash produced SPE C and 4 of these also produced SPE B.

Effect of swab type on the analytical sensitivity of five point-of-care tests for group A streptococci

2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Lasseter ◽  
C. A. M. Mcnulty ◽  
F. D. R. Hobbs ◽  
D. Mant ◽  
P. Little
Keyword(s):  
Point Of Care ◽  
Analytical Sensitivity ◽  
Group A Streptococci ◽  
Group A ◽  
Point Of Care Tests

Preventing Medical Errors in Point-of-Care Testing

2001 ◽  
Vol 125 (10) ◽  
pp. 1307-1315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald J. Kost
Keyword(s):  
Medical Errors ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Point Of Care Testing ◽  
Consensus Process ◽  
Process Step ◽  
Error Prevention ◽  
Group A ◽  
Emergency Systems ◽  
Group B

Abstract Objective.—To prevent medical errors, improve user performance, and enhance the quality, safety, and connectivity (bidirectional communication) of point-of-care testing. Participants.—Group A included 37 multidisciplinary experts in point-of-care testing programs in critical care and other hospital disciplines. Group B included 175 professional point-of-care managers, specialists, clinicians, and researchers. The total number of participants equaled 212. Evidence.—This study followed a systems approach. Expert specifications for prevention of medical errors were incorporated into the designs of security, validation, performance, and emergency systems. Additional safeguards need to be implemented through instrument software options and point-of-care coordinators. Connectivity will be facilitated by standards that eliminate deficiencies in instrument communication and device compatibility. Assessment of control features on handheld, portable, and transportable point-of-care instruments shows that current error reduction features lag behind needs. Consensus Process.—Step 1: United States national survey and collation of group A expert requirements for security, validation, and performance. Step 2: Design of parallel systems for these functions. Step 3: Written critique and improvement of the error-prevention systems during 4 successive presentations to group B participants over 9 months until system designs stabilized into final consensus form. Conclusions.—The consensus process produced 6 conclusions for preventing medical errors in point-of-care testing: (1) adopt operator certification and validation in point-of-care testing programs; (2) implement security, validation, performance, and emergency systems on existing and new devices; (3) require flexible, user-defined error-prevention system options on instruments as a prerequisite to federal licensing of new diagnostic tests and devices; (4) integrate connectivity standards for bidirectional information exchange; (5) preserve fast therapeutic turnaround time of point-of-care test results; and (6) monitor invalid use, operator competence, quality compliance, and other performance improvement indices to reduce errors, thereby focusing on patient outcomes. (Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2001;1307–1315)

scholarly journals Point-of-Care Testing for Pharyngitis in the Pharmacy

Antibiotics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 743
Author(s):  
Sabiha Essack ◽  
John Bell ◽  
Douglas Burgoyne ◽  
Wirat Tongrod ◽  
Martin Duerden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Regional Differences ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Point Of Care Testing ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
Group A ◽  
Limiting Condition ◽  
Opinion Article

Pharyngitis (also known as sore throat) is a common, predominately viral, self-limiting condition which can be symptomatically managed without antibiotic treatment. Inappropriate antibiotic use for pharyngitis contributes to the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. However, a small proportion of sore throats caused by group A streptococcal (GAS) infection may benefit from the provision of antibiotics. Establishing the cause of infection is therefore an important step in effective antibiotic stewardship. Point-of-care (POC) tests, where results are available within minutes, can distinguish between viral and GAS pharyngitis and can therefore guide treatment in primary healthcare settings such as community pharmacies, which are often the first point of contact with the healthcare system. In this opinion article, the evidence for the use of POC testing in the community pharmacy has been discussed. Evidence suggests that pharmacy POC testing can promote appropriate antibiotic use and reduce the need for general practitioner consultations. Challenges to implementation include cost, training and ‘who prescribes’, with country and regional differences presenting a particular issue. Despite these challenges, POC testing for pharyngitis has become widely available in pharmacies in some countries and may represent a strategy to contain antibiotic resistance and contribute to antimicrobial stewardship.

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