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The prevalence of potential pathogenic bacteria in nasopharyngeal samples from individuals with a respiratory tract infection and a sore throat—implications for the diagnosis of pharyngotonsillitis

The prevalence of potential pathogenic bacteria in nasopharyngeal samples from individuals with a... Background. Treatment failure in patients with pharyngotonsillitis after a traditional course of penicillin V is a common finding. Several factors have been proposed to explain the failure rate, but the presence of aetiological agents other than group A β-haemolytic streptococci has attracted little attention. Objectives. The aim of the present study was to investigate if a nasopharyngeal sample could suggest the aetiology of a sore throat in patients with a respiratory tract infection. Methods. The prevalence of potentially pathogenic bacteria ( Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis ) in nasopharyngeal samples from 618 healthy individuals was compared with that from 108 patients with a respiratory tract infection and a sore throat. Results. The prevalence of H.influenzae was higher in patients with a sore throat than in healthy individuals of the same age. For the adult patients with a sore throat, the prevalence was 27.5% compared with 2.7% for the healthy carriers ( P < 10 –7 ). The corresponding figures for schoolchildren were 31.3% versus 6.1% ( P = 0.004) and for pre-school children 37.8% versus 13.2% ( P = 0.0003). Conclusions. If H.influenzae is found in a nasopharyngeal sample from a patient with a respiratory tract infection and a sore throat, it might be the aetiological agent. Key words http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Family Practice Oxford University Press

The prevalence of potential pathogenic bacteria in nasopharyngeal samples from individuals with a respiratory tract infection and a sore throat—implications for the diagnosis of pharyngotonsillitis

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References (19)

Publisher
Oxford University Press
Copyright
Copyright © 2015 Oxford University Press
ISSN
0263-2136
eISSN
1460-2229
DOI
10.1093/fampra/18.3.266
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Background. Treatment failure in patients with pharyngotonsillitis after a traditional course of penicillin V is a common finding. Several factors have been proposed to explain the failure rate, but the presence of aetiological agents other than group A β-haemolytic streptococci has attracted little attention. Objectives. The aim of the present study was to investigate if a nasopharyngeal sample could suggest the aetiology of a sore throat in patients with a respiratory tract infection. Methods. The prevalence of potentially pathogenic bacteria ( Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis ) in nasopharyngeal samples from 618 healthy individuals was compared with that from 108 patients with a respiratory tract infection and a sore throat. Results. The prevalence of H.influenzae was higher in patients with a sore throat than in healthy individuals of the same age. For the adult patients with a sore throat, the prevalence was 27.5% compared with 2.7% for the healthy carriers ( P < 10 –7 ). The corresponding figures for schoolchildren were 31.3% versus 6.1% ( P = 0.004) and for pre-school children 37.8% versus 13.2% ( P = 0.0003). Conclusions. If H.influenzae is found in a nasopharyngeal sample from a patient with a respiratory tract infection and a sore throat, it might be the aetiological agent. Key words

Journal

Family PracticeOxford University Press

Published: Jun 1, 2001

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