Open AccessGroup A streptococcal antigen detection in school children
Author(s) -
H Nsanze,
K. P. Dawson,
A. S. Ameen,
Nada Mustafa
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
eastern mediterranean health journal/eastern mediterranean health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1687-1634
pISSN - 1020-3397
DOI - 10.26719/1998.4.2.260
Subject(s) - antigen , throat , streptococcus , throat culture , medicine , group a , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , isolation (microbiology) , biology , bacteria , surgery , genetics
The objective of the study was to determine the correlation between group A streptococcal antigen detected from throat swabs with the culture results. A total of 1457 children had two swabs taken simultaneously, and culture and antigen detection were performed. There was a good correlation between antigen detection and isolation rates. In all, 225 strains of group A streptococcus were isolated;53 [57.6%] were from the 92 children with high antigen positivity, 68 [55.7%] were from the 122 children with medium antigen positivity and 77 [25.4%] were from 303 children with low antigen positivity;only 27 [2.9%] were from the 940 children with no antigen detected. We postulate that those who are antigen-positive, culture-negative carry the organisms in their throats, but they may be missed on culture because of the small number carried