TAILIEUCHUNG - Assessment of rapid antigen detection testing in diagnosing group a streptococcal pharyngitis in comparison with gold standard bacterial culture

Acute pharyngitis is a very common illness that can be caused by different viruses and bacteria, Group A streptococci (GAS) being the most common bacterial cause. However, clinical examination cannot be used to differentiate viral and group A strep pharyngitis, even for experienced clinicians. Objectives of the study is to determine the impact of rapid antigen detection testing (RADT) to identify group A beta haemolytic Streptococcus in acute pharyngitis and to compare the RADT with throat swab culture in diagnosing acute GAS pharyngitis. Throat swabs were collected from patients with sore throat. All the samples were tested immediately by Rapid antigen detection test and also cultured on to Blood agar plate for isolation of Group A streptococci. The effectiveness of RADT was analysed against the gold standard culture. Out of 102 samples collected 29 were positive for Streptococcal infection by the gold standard culture, showing a prevalence of in symptomatic patients. Of this 29 culture positive cases, RADT was positive for Streptococcal antigen for 20 cases with a sensitivity of 69%. The prevalence of Streptococcal pharyngitis is only in clinically suspected cases of 5-15 years age group, the majority of the other cases must be due to viral etiology. Hence it is necessary to screen all the clinically suspected cases for GAS, so that unnecessary antibiotic prescription can be avoided. RADT can be used as a screening test though the sensitivity of RADT is 69%. | Assessment of rapid antigen detection testing in diagnosing group a streptococcal pharyngitis in comparison with gold standard bacterial culture

• Acute pharyngitis
• Group a streptococci
• Gold standard bacterial culture
• Streptococcal pharyngitis
• Diagnosing group