Open AccessGroup A streptococci in children with acute pharyngitis in Sousse, Tunisia
Author(s) -
Ridha Mzoughi,
O Bouallègue,
H. Selmi,
Hanène Ben Saïd,
A. Essoussi,
M. Jeddi
Publication year - 2004
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 - 10.26719/2004.10.4-5.488
Subject(s) - pharyngitis , throat , serotype , group a , typing , medicine , outpatient clinic , microbiology and biotechnology , acute pharyngitis , virology , biology , surgery
A 1-year prospective study in 2 paediatric outpatient clinics in Sousse, Tunisia, aimed to determine the presence of group A streptococci in acute pharyngitis cases and carriers, and the distribution of the serotypes and biotypes. Group A streptococci were found in 9.0% of throat swabs from 155 controls and 17.7% from 474 patients [P < 0.05]. Of 43 strains isolated from patients and submitted for typing, 15 different types were identified, the most common being M75 [14 strains; 32.5%], M9 [6 strains; 14.0%], M76 [5 strains; 11.6%] and M12 [4 strains; 9.3%]. Three strains were non-typeable [7.0%]. Biotyping of the strains showed 3 predominant biotypes:biotype 3 [n = 14], biotype 2 [n = 11], and biotype 1 [n = 7]