Prevalence of group A β-haemolytic Streptococcus among children with pharyngitis in Jimma town, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among children and responsible for 20-30% of bacterial pharyngitis.Objective: Determining prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and clinical predictors of GAS among children with pharyngitis.Method: A cross sectional study was conducted on 355 children with pharyngitis attended in Health Centers of Jimma town from May 8 to December 31, 2013. Demographic and clinical data were collected by questionnaire. Throat swabs were collected and processed with the standard microbiological techniques to isolate GAS. The disc diffusion method was used for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analysis were done by SPSS version 20.Results: Females accounted for 57.7% of 355 children with pharyngitis. Sixty-six percent of the children were 5-9 years old giving mean ± SD age of 8.5 ± 2.7 years. The prevalence of GAS was 11.3%. All isolates of GAS were susceptible to penicillin and erythromycin. However, 52.5% were resistant to tetracycline. Absence of cough, tonsillar swelling or exudate and temperature >38°C were found to be independent predictors for GAS infection among children with pharyngitis (P < 0.05).Conclusion: In this study the prevalence of GAS was relatively low. However, the seasonality of GAS infection might underestimate the prevalence, so that large-scale prospective study in the entire season and in various settings is required. In addition, the clinical variables that are predictor of GAS pharyngitis can be considered for the diagnosis of GAS pharyngitis with further evaluation of its reproducibility in different settings.

Prevalence and Antibiotics Susceptibility Profiles of Streptococcus Pyogenes Among Pediatric Patients With Acute Pharyngitis at Felege Hiwot Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

“…In this study, all isolates were sensitive to penicillin which is in agreement with studies reported in USA [29,30], Asia [16,42,43], Europe [41,44,45], African countries including Egypt [46], Kenya [39] and Jima, Ethiopia [11]. This is due to lack of β-lactamase production by S. pyogenes.…”

“…The sample size was calculated using a single population proportion formula based on the assumption of 5% expected margins of error, 95% con dence interval (Za/2= 1.96) or alpha (α = 5%) and the previous prevalence of S. pyogene reported as 11.3% in Jimma town, Ethiopia [11]. N = (Za/2) 2 × P (1 -P) = (1.96) 2…”

Throat Colonization and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Group a β-Hemolytic Streptococci Among Rheumatic Heart Disease Patients Attending a Cardiac Referral Hospital in Tanzania, a Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

“…The finding that stopping ARF prophylaxis is independently associated with positive GAS throat culture results is in agreement with previous reports in literature ( 7 , 27 , 29 , 31 ). In the study by Zegeye et al ( 7 ) from Ethiopia, children who missed at least one prophylaxis within the last 6 months had a higher culture positivity rate than those who did not miss any scheduled prophylaxis.…”

“…This is more serious for those who are particularly at a greater risk due to a number of factors including their genetic susceptibility, which renders them more sensitive to infection with a rheumatogenic strain of GAS ( 25 ). Only few studies from sub-Saharan Africa have reported the prevalence of GAS colonization in the general population ( 8 – 10 , 22 , 26 ), in patients with pharyngotonsillitis ( 27 , 28 ), and among RHD patients ( 7 ). The present study therefore adds to the current knowledge on RHD in the region by demonstrating that among RHD patients attending care at a tertiary health facility in Tanzania, throat GAS colonization is present in 12.9% and is independently associated with stopping ARF prophylaxis among these patients.…”

Efficacy of Rapid Antigen Test and McIsaac / Modified Centor Scores for Diagnosis of Streptococcal Tonsillopharyngitis in Children

“…17 Others showed a correlation between tonsillar edema and streptococcal culture positivity. 18,19 Among them, Barbosa et al reported that the absence of viral signs such as running nose and conjunctivitis were also significantly correlated to streptococcal culture positivity. Our study did not reveal such a correlation.…”