scholarly journals Association between C-Reactive Protein Rapid Test and Group A Streptococcus Infection in Acute Pharyngitis

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 424-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Calvino ◽  
C. Llor ◽  
F. Gomez ◽  
E. Gonzalez ◽  
C. Sarvise ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Group A Streptococcus ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Acute Pharyngitis ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Group A

scholarly journals USE OF EXPRESS TESTS IN THE PRACTICE OF FAMILY DOCTORS AND PEDIATRICIANS

2021 ◽  
Vol 121 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-64
Author(s):  
Liudmyla Gospodarenko ◽  
Tetiana Klets ◽  
Ganna Gnyloskurenko ◽  
Roman Terletskyi ◽  
Diana Kononenko
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
Outpatient Clinic ◽  
Secondary Care ◽  
Group A Streptococcus ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Group A

Rapid diagnosis significantly reduces the patient's expectation of effective medical care. As a result, rapid or POC-tests are becoming increasingly important in the world. However, the frequency of their use, the availability of tests in medical facilities, the awareness of physicians about diagnostic capabilities and the need for them are currently unclear. The aim of our study was to determine the level of awareness of physicians about the use of rapid tests for influenza, RS-virus, ꞵ-hemolytic group A streptococcus  and laboratory markers of inflammation in the form of POC-tests in daily practice. The study was conducted by interviewing 78 pediatricians and family physicians in Kyiv and Kyiv region who work at the primary and secondary levels of medical care. A questionnaire from EAPRASnetT (European Academy of Pediatric Research in the network of outpatient settings) was used for the survey. Our research has shown that hospital physicians are more informed about the use of rapid diagnostics and are more willing to use it in the treatment and diagnostic process. A rapid antigen test for influenza is available to the vast majority of inpatients (78%) and only half of outpatients (46.3%). Half of primary care physicians (56.1%) and the vast majority of secondary care professionals (73%) are willing to use this test in practice if it is available. The results of our study also showed a higher adherence to this rapid test of inpatients, as only 2.7% of them would like to confirm the results of POC-tests by laboratory tests (compared to 22% of outpatients). Most doctors in both outpatient clinics (61%) and inpatients (75.7%) are ready to use a rapid test for respiratory syncytial virus. Only 2.7% of hospital doctors would like to have a laboratory version, and outpatients would be completely satisfied with a quick test. However, due to the lack of trust in 14.6% of cases, they would like to confirm its results by laboratory testing. About a third of physicians (39%) use the rapid test for ꞵ-hemolytic group A streptococcus in the outpatient clinic, but half (51.2%) stated the need for this test and its unavailability. In the hospital, the data obtained were the opposite: half of doctors already use this test (59.5%), and another third would like to have it (35.1%). Rapid C-reactive protein testing is poorly used by physicians in both health care settings (12.2% in the outpatient setting and 29.7% in the inpatient setting) due to low security and lack of awareness. This is confirmed by the fact that 75.6% of primary and 64.9% of secondary care physicians stated that the test is not available, but they are ready to use this test if available. POC-test for C-reactive protein is used more in the hospital than in the outpatient clinic. At the outpatient stage, 12.2% of physicians do not consider it appropriate to use C-reactive protein in the diagnosis of diseases, in the hospital of such physicians 5%. About 10% of doctors in both groups expressed distrust in the rapid CRP-test, as they would like to use only the laboratory version. Doubts about the accuracy of almost twice as many outpatients, as more often would like to check it with a laboratory version (19.5% vs. 10.8% of inpatients). Therefore, one in five physicians in the outpatient clinic would use both the laboratory and POC versions. The rapid test for procalcitonin is used by every 5th doctor in the hospital and only 7% of the primary care, which can be attributed to the low availability of the test in medical practice, poor provision of medical institutions with POC-tests, as 62.2% and 78% of doctors the hospital and the clinic replied that they would use it if it was available. As for the complete general analysis of blood with leukocyte formula, only 17.1% and 35.5% of doctors of the polyclinic and hospital would like to use its POC version. Interviewed physicians would prefer a laboratory version of the test.It is necessary to raise awareness of physicians, especially primary care, about modern diagnostic methods, namely the practice of POC-tests and make them more accessible, which would significantly improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients, would have a positive impact on public health and significant economic effect.

scholarly journals Positive Rate of Tests for Group a Streptococcus and Viral Features in Children with Acute Pharyngitis

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 599
Author(s):  
Dasom Wi ◽  
Soo-Han Choi
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Testing ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Group A Streptococcus ◽  
Throat Culture ◽  
Acute Pharyngitis ◽  
Rapid Antigen Detection Test ◽  
Positive Rate ◽  
Group A ◽  
Centor Score ◽  
Low Prevalence

Group A streptococcus (GAS) is an important cause of acute pharyngitis. We investigated the positive rate of GAS tests and clinical viral features in children with acute pharyngitis. A retrospective review was conducted for patients <15 years old with both rapid antigen detection test (RADT) and throat culture results. Patients were excluded if they were diagnosed with influenza or had received antibiotics within two weeks before these tests. A total of 377 patients were eligible. The median age of patients was 3.5 years, and 45.4% of total patients were <3 years old. Among all patients, 68.7% had at least one viral feature, and 39% had more than two. The overall positiv rate for GAS was 11.4%. The GAS positive rate was significantly lower in patients <3 years old than in older patients (1.8% vs. 19.4%, p < 0.0001). The overall sensitivity and specificity of RADT were 75.0% (95% CI: 57.8–87.9) and 97.9% (95% CI: 95.8–99.2), respectively. The GAS positive rate was not significantly different between patients with and without viral features (12.4% vs. 9.3%, p = 0.4854). In patients aged 3–14 years, the GAS positive rate was not associated with the modified Centor score or the frequency of clinical viral features. Despite a low prevalence of GAS pharyngitis, testing for GAS was frequently performed in children <3 years old in this study. Appropriate use of laboratory testing for GAS pharyngitis and judicious prescription of antibiotics were imperative.

scholarly journals Value of rapid test for identification of beta hemolytic Streptococcus antigens in children with Streptococcal pharyngitis

2004 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl. 1) ◽  
pp. 39-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Branimir Nestorovic ◽  
Suzana Laban-Nestorovic ◽  
Veselinka Paripovic ◽  
Katarina Milosevic
Keyword(s):  
Group A Streptococcus ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Streptococcal Pharyngitis ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Group A Streptococci ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Isolation And Identification ◽  
Cervical Lymph Nodes ◽  
Group A ◽  
Tract Infections

Beta-hemolytic group A streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes) is the most common bacterial agent associated with the upper respiratory tract infections in humans. The most frequently group A streptococcus-associated disease is pharyngitis. Males and females are equally affected by group A streptococcus. There is seasonal increase in the prevalence of group A streptococcus-associated pharyngitis. Streptococcal pharyngitis is most prevalent in winter and early spring with higher incidence of disease observed in crowded population such as school children. Early diagnosis and treatment of group A streptococcal pharyngitis has been shown to reduce the severity of symptoms and further complications such as rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis. The conventional methods used for identification of group A streptococci depend on isolation and identification of the organism on blood agar plates. These methods usually require 18-24 hours of incubation at 37?C. Such delay in identifying the group A streptococcus has often made physicians to administer therapy without first disclosing the etiological agent. Development of immunologic tests, capable of detecting the group A streptococcal antigen directly from the throat swabs, produced rapid test results employed for better treatment of patients. STREP A test is a rapid immunochromatographic test for the detection of group A streptococci from throat swabs or culture. The accuracy of the test does not depend on the organism viability. Instead, group A strep antigen is extracted directly from the swab and identified using antibodies specific for the group A carbohydrates. We compared rapid test with conventional throat swab in 40 children, who met Centor criteria for streptococcal pharyngitis (absence of cough, high fever, purulent pharyngitis, enlarged and painful cervical lymph nodes). Overall congruence of rapid test and culture was 94%. Test is easy to perform and it is recommended as the first diagnostic test for management of children with streptococcal pharyngitis. In children with negative test, but with characteristics highly suggestive of streptococcal infection, throat culture should be performed.

Plasma-Mediated Bipolar Radiofrequency Ablation of Overlong Soft Palate in the Dog: A Pilot Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 267-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Palierne ◽  
Patricia Meynaud ◽  
Alexis Bilmont ◽  
Maxence Delverdier ◽  
Marie-Odile Semin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiofrequency Ablation ◽  
Soft Palate ◽  
Tissue Damage ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Bipolar Radiofrequency ◽  
Duration Of Surgery ◽  
Group A ◽  
Histopathologic Changes

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to compare the clinical, biological, macroscopic, and histologic outcomes after resection of the soft palate by plasma-mediated bipolar radiofrequency ablation (PBRA) or traditional incisional techniques (incisional soft palate resection [INC]) in dogs. Ten dogs were divided in two groups. In the INC group, the soft palate was incised with scissors and the wound was sutured in a continuous pattern. In the PBRA group, a wand was used to ablate the desired portion of the soft palate, without suture. Clinical, biological, macroscopic, and histologic assessments were scheduled over 14 days. The duration of surgery was significantly shorter for the PBRA group. The C-reactive protein concentrations were significantly higher in the PBRA group at 6 hr and on day 3 (P &lt; .05) but with values very close to the baseline. C-reactive protein concentrations were maximal, but with low values (&lt;25 mg/L), at day 1 for both techniques. The irregularity scores for the soft palate caudal border on days 1, 3, and 14 were significantly higher in the INC group than in the PBRA group (P &lt; .05). The main histopathologic changes were the presence of superficial granulomas and a significantly greater depth of tissue damage in the INC group (2.5 ± 0.3 mm) compared with the PBRA group (1.5 ± 0.1 mm; P &lt; .05). PBRA compared favorably with the traditional technique in terms of ease, duration of surgery, and depth of tissue damage. Future studies are warranted to validate its effectiveness for treating brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome in dogs.

Significance of Quantitative Salivary Cultures for Group A and Non-group A β-Hemolytic Streptococci in Patients with Pharyngitis and in Their Family Contacts

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 904-912
Author(s):  
Edward L. Kaplan ◽  
Robert Couser ◽  
Barbara Ballard Huwe ◽  
Carolyn Mckay ◽  
Lewis W. Wannamaker
Keyword(s):  
Antibody Response ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Group A Streptococci ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Throat Culture ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Group A ◽  
Bona Fide ◽  
Upper Respiratory

One hundred ninety-six individuals, 86 with clinically overt pharyngotonsillitis and 110 of their clinically negative contacts were studied to evaluate the sensitivity and the specificity of quantitative saliva cultures for group A β-hemolytic streptococci. We also compared this technique with semiquantitative throat cultures as a means of isolating group A streptococci and of differentiating the streptococcal carrier state from patients with bona fide streptococcal upper respiratory tract infection as defmed by the presence of an antibody response. The data indicate that the throat culture is a more reliable means of identifying group A β-hemolytic streptococci in the upper respiratory tract than is the saliva culture. The converse is true for non-group A β-hemolytic streptococci; the saliva culture is a much better means for isolating these organisms. In individuals positive by both techniques we found good correlation between the degree of positivity of the saliva culture and the degree of positivity of the throat culture. Furthermore, while there was a definite trend for individuals with strongly positive cultures to demonstrate more often an antibody rise in either antistreptolysin O and/or antideoxynibonuclease B—indicating bona fide infection—this relationship was not sufficiently constant to provide a clear differentiation. This study also indicates that discordance (one positive, one negative) of simultaneous duplicate semiquantitative throat cultures is much more common among individuals who do not show an antibody response ("carriers") than among those with an antibody response (bona fide infection). This study confirms our previous observations suggesting that the presence of C-reactive protein in the serum of patients with a positive culture for group A streptococci and clinical signs and symptoms of pharyngitis is often an indication of true streptococcal upper respiratory tract infection, and that even with a positive saliva culture at the initial visit, a negative C-reactive protein is only infrequently (25%) associated with an antibody response.

scholarly journals C-Reactive Protein Predicts Progression of Peripheral Arterial Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A 5-Year Follow-Up Study

2014 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 347-355
Author(s):  
Ljiljana Popović ◽  
Katarina Lalić ◽  
Olga Vasović ◽  
Danijela Drašković Radojković ◽  
Nataša Rajković ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Peripheral Arterial Disease ◽  
Arterial Disease ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Group A ◽  
Hs Crp ◽  
Group B ◽  
Peripheral Arterial

Summary Background: Previous studies have indicated that high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a risk factor for the peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in diabetes. This study aimed to evaluate the possible predictive significance of hs-CRP for the development and progression of PAD in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: The study included 80 patients previously diagnosed with T2D, aged 45–70 years, divided into group A (T2D patients with PAD; n=38) and group B (T2D patients without PAD; n=42). After five years, all the patients were re-examined and divided into subgroups depending on de novo development of PAD or progression of previously diagnosed PAD. Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) measurement was used for PAD diagnosis and hs-CRP was determined by nephelometry. Results: We found significantly higher hs-CRP levels in group A compared to group B, but only at baseline. Among the patients in group A, those with later progression of PAD (subgroup A1) had the highest levels of hs-CRP at baseline, although not significantly different from those in subgroup A2 (non-progressors). In contrast, hs-CRP level was significantly higher in subgroup B1 (progressors) in comparison to subgroup B2 (non-progressors) at both the first and second exam. Of all the investigated metabolic parameters, hs-CRP was the only independent predictor of PAD progression (OR=0.456, 95% CI=0.267–0.7815, p=0.004). The cut-off point for hs-CRP was 2.5 mg/L (specificity 75% and sensitivity 73.3%) with the relative risk for PAD of 2.93 (95% CI=1.351–6.3629). Conclusions: Our study implies that hs-CRP can be used as a reliable predictor for the progression of PAD in patients with T2D.

scholarly journals Study of High sensitive C - reactive protein and Gamma-glutamyl transferase in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Hypertension

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 3478-3483
Author(s):  
Ramya S ◽  
Sureka Varalakshmi V ◽  
Uma Maheswari K ◽  
Chandan Bala R
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Gamma Glutamyl Transferase ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Group A ◽  
Hs Crp ◽  
Group B ◽  
Glutamyl Transferase

C-reactive protein (CRP), produced by the hepatocytes is a primary inflammatory marker of T2DM. Higher levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase enzyme (GGT) and Hs CRP (High sensitive CRP)are associated with the complication of poor glycemic control.This study was aimed to find the association of Hs CRP and GGT for cardiovascular risk factors in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)and Hypertension in the suburbs of Chennai. This study includes 57 subjects with T2DM and Hypertension (Group A) and 62 subjects with T2DM (GroupB) within the age group of 40-60 years. FBS, HbA1C, Hs CRP, GGT and blood pressure were determined. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the SPSS 17 version. Mean values of FBS, blood HbA1C, Hs CRP and GGT were significantly higher among participants of Group A than Group B. Significant difference of FBS, HbA1C were found between the two groups. In contrast, no significant difference of GGT was found between the groups. Differences were considered statistically significant at two-sided P < 0.05. Within the group, Hs CRP shows the significance and positive correlation with FBS, SBP and DBP. Still, GGT does not show any significance in Group A. In contrast, in Group B, both Hs CRP and GGT shows the importance and positive correlation with FBS and HbA1C.It is concluded that high levels of HsCRP are associated with T2DM and Hypertension, indicating increased cardiovascular risk, and it should be included in regular monitoring of type-2 diabetic patients.

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