Throat Carriage Rate and Antimicrobial Resistance of Streptococcus pyogenes In Rural Children in Argentina

Abstract

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic carriers of group A β-hemolytic streptococci (GAS) in children living in a rural community and to investigate the association between episodes of acute pharyngitis and carrier status.MethodsThroat swabs were collected from September to November 2013 among children 5-13 years of age from a rural community (Maria Ignacia-Vela, Argentina). The phenotypic characterization of isolates was performed by conventional tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility was assayed for penicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and clindamycin (disk diffusion). The minimum inhibitory concentration was determined for penicillin, cefotaxime, tetracycline, and erythromycin.ResultsThe carriage of β-hemolytic streptococci was detected in 18.1% of participants, with Streptococcus pyogenes in 18 participants followed by S. dysgalactiae ssp. equisimilis in 5. The highest proportion of GAS was found in 8 to 10-year-old children. No significant association between the number of episodes of acute pharyngitis suffered in the last year and the carrier state was detected (p>0.05). Tetracycline resistance (55.5%) and macrolide-resistant phenotypes (11.1%) were observed. Resistance to penicillin, cefotaxime, or chloramphenicol was not expressed in any streptococcal isolate.ConclusionsThe present study demonstrated significant throat carriage of GAS and the presence of group C streptococci (S. dysgalactiae ssp. equisimilis) in an Argentinian rural population. These results point out the need for continuous surveillance of GAS and non-GAS carriage as well as of antimicrobial resistance in highly susceptible populations, such as school-aged rural children. An extended surveillance program including school-aged children from different cities should be considered to estimate the prevalence of GAS carriage in Argentina.

Asymptomatic carriage of Streptococcus pyogenes among school children in Sana’a city, Yemen

“…This finding is in agreement with Carapetis et al who showed that S. pyogenes prevalence to decrease with age [21]. It is also in agreement with studies reported from different countries [16–19].…”

The rate of asymptomatic throat carriage of Streptococcus pyogenes and its associated risk factors among Kabul University students

“…The prevalence (throat carrier rate) of S. pyogenes in Kabul university students was 16.9% compared with India 11.2 to 34% [14] Turkey 2-46% [15] Argentine 5-7% [16]. According to ages, the highest prevalence of S. pyogenes asymptomatic throat carriage was in the lowest age sub group (19-21 years) compared to other sub groups (22-24, 25-27 and 28-30y), which shows that throat carriage of this organism decrease by age and it was similar with the many previous studies in other countries [6,[17][18][19][20]. In our study the number of children in the family (large family size) was an important risk factor.…”

Throat Carriage rate, Associated Factors, and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Group A Streptococcus Among Healthy School Children in Jigjiga City, Eastern Ethiopia

“…All GAS isolates were sensitive to penicillin in our study. The same high activity of penicillin had been reported in many countries, namely Ethiopia (14,15,32), Uganda (24), India (17), Nepal (22,28) and Argentina (26). Our ndings reveal that amoxicillin (89.8%) and ceftriaxone (95.9%) have slightly reduced sensitivity against S. pyogenes when compared to recently published publications in Senegal and Ethiopia (15,33).…”