Background Group A Streptococcus has been recognized as an important human pathogen and it remains among the top ten causes of mortality from an infectious disease. Group A Streptococcus throat carriage plays an important role in the development of infection and transmission to contacts. In Ethiopia, there is little information about screening of children for group A Streptococcus carriage. Objective This study was aimed to assess the magnitude of throat carriage, associated factors, and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of group A Streptococcus among healthy school children in Jigjiga city, Eastern Ethiopia from 12 April to 27 May 2021. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted enrolled by simple random sampling. Data on socio-demographic and related characteristics were gathered using pretested structured questionnaire. The throat sample was collected from 462 healthy school children and immediately transported to Jigjiga University Sultan Sheik Hassan referral hospital laboratory for investigation. Identification of group A Streptococcus was done by colony characterstics, gram staining, catalase negativity, bacitracin sensitivity, and Pyrrolidonyl arylamidase tests. Antibiotic susceptibility test was done on Muller-Hinton agar containing 5% sheep blood by modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The data were coded, cleaned, and entered onto EpiData Version 3.1 then exported to SPSS version 26.0 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression through adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was used to determine the relationship between culture-positivity rates of GAS and predictor variables. A p-value < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant on multivariable analysis. Results The overall prevalence of group A Streptococcus throat culture rate was 10.6% (95%CI; 8.1%—13.7%). Previous family member who had a sore throat, children living with larger families (more than 11 members), and children living with non-immediate families were significantly associated with culture-positivity rates of GAS. Children who live with a family member with a sore throat compared with those who lived with in a family with no history of sore throat (AOR = 2.51; 95%CI 1.09–5.73), children who live with a large family comared to children living in families with less members (AOR = 4.64; 95% CI 1.53–14.1), and children who live with non-immediate families compared to children living with their mothers (AOR = 3.65; 95% CI 1.39 – 9.61), showed significant association with group A Streptococcus carriage rate. Resistance to all other antibiotics tested was low (< 5%). Multidrug resistance was found in 4.1% of isolates. Conclusion The present study showed 10.6% throat carriage of group A Streptococcus. Family member with a sore throat, having a large family, and living with non-immediate families have all been identified as independent predictors of carriage prevalence.

Background: Group A Streptococcus has been recognized as an important human pathogen and it remains among the top ten causes of mortality from an infectious disease. Group A Streptococcus throat carriage plays an important role in the development of infection and transmission to contacts. In Ethiopia, there is little information about screening of children for Group A Streptococcus carriage.Objective: This study was aimed to assess the magnitude of throat carriage, associated factors, and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Group A Streptococus among healthy school children in Jigjiga city, Eastern Ethiopia from 12 April to 27 May 2021.Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 462 healthy school children in ages ranging from 7 to 14 years. The throat sample was collected using a sterile cotton swab. Identification of Group A Streptococcus was done by colony characterstics, gram staining, catalase negativity, bactricin sensitivity and Pyrrolidonyl arylamidase tests. Antibiotic susceptibility test was done on Muller-Hinton agar containing 5% sheep blood by modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Data on socio-demographic and related characteristics were gathered through interviews using a questionnaire. The data were double-checked, coded, cleaned, and entered onto EpiData Version 3.1 then exported to SPSS version 26.0 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between outcome and predictor variables. A p-value < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.Results: The overall prevalence of Group A Streptococcus carriage was 10.6% (95%CI; 8.1% - 13.7%). Children who live with a family member with a sore throat (AOR=2.51; 95%CI 1.09–5.73), children who live with a large family (AOR=4.64; 95% CI 1.53–14.1), and children who live with non-immediate families (AOR= 3.65; 95% CI 1.39 – 9.61), showed significant association with Group A Streptococcus carriage. Tetracycline resistance was shown to be high, while antimicrobial drugs such as penicillin, amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, erythromycin, azithromycin, chloramphenicol, and vancomycin were found to be effective. Multi-drug resistance was found in 4.1 % of the isolates. Conclusion: The present study showed a significant throat carriage of Group A Streptococci/S. pyogenes in Jigjiga city school children. Family member with a sore throat, having a large family, and living with non-immediate families have all been identified as independent predictors of carriage prevalence. It is recommended that regular screening and surveillance should be conducted in schools.

Background: Group A Streptococcus has been recognized as an important human pathogen and it remains among the top ten causes of mortality from an infectious disease. Group A Streptococcus throat carriage plays an important role in the development of infection and transmission to contacts. In Ethiopia, there is little information about screening of children for Group A Streptococcus carriage.Objective: This study was aimed to assess the magnitude of throat carriage, associated factors, and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Group A Streptococus among healthy school children in Jigjiga city, Eastern Ethiopia from 12 April to 27 May 2021.Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 462 healthy school children in ages ranging from 7 to 14 years. The throat sample was collected using a sterile cotton swab. Identification of Group A Streptococcus was done by colony characterstics, gram staining, catalase negativity, bactricin sensitivity and Pyrrolidonyl arylamidase tests. Antibiotic susceptibility test was done on Muller-Hinton agar containing 5% sheep blood by modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Data on socio-demographic and related characteristics were gathered through interviews using a questionnaire. The data were double-checked, coded, cleaned, and entered onto EpiData Version 3.1 then exported to SPSS version 26.0 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between outcome and predictor variables. A p-value < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.Results: The overall prevalence of Group A Streptococcus carriage was 10.6% (95%CI; 8.1% - 13.7%). Children who live with a family member with a sore throat (AOR=2.51; 95%CI 1.09–5.73), children who live with a large family (AOR=4.64; 95% CI 1.53–14.1), and children who live with non-immediate families (AOR= 3.65; 95% CI 1.39 – 9.61), showed significant association with Group A Streptococcus carriage. Tetracycline resistance was shown to be high, while antimicrobial drugs such as penicillin, amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, erythromycin, azithromycin, chloramphenicol, and vancomycin were found to be effective. Multi-drug resistance was found in 4.1 % of the isolates. Conclusion: The present study showed a significant throat carriage of Group A Streptococci/S. pyogenes in Jigjiga city school children. Family member with a sore throat, having a large family, and living with non-immediate families have all been identified as independent predictors of carriage prevalence. It is recommended that regular screening and surveillance should be conducted in schools.