Use of Host Response to Refine the Diagnosis of Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Current diagnostic tests for pharyngitis do not distinguish between symptomatic group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection and asymptomatic colonization, resulting in over-diagnosis and unnecessary use of antibiotics. We assessed whether measures of host response could make this distinction.

Methods

We enrolled 18 children with pharyngitis having Centor scores of 4 or 5 and 21 controls without pharyngitis or other acute infections. Both groups had throat cultures, molecular tests for GAS and respiratory viruses and IgM serology for Epstein-Barr virus. Host response was evaluated with white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and sequencing of RNA from peripheral blood leukocytes.

Results

Of 18 cases, 11 had GAS pharyngitis, 3 h

SUBMITTER: Yu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9720373 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature