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. 2009 Feb 3;40(10):489–494. [Article in Spanish] doi: 10.1157/13127228

Validación de una técnica antigénica rápida en el diagnóstico de la faringitis por estreptococo betahemolítico del grupo A☆

Validation of a rapid antigenic test in the diagnosis of pharyngitis caused by group A Beta-Haemolytic Streptococcus

Carles Llor a,⁎, Silvia Hernández Anadón a, Frederic Francesc Gómez Bertomeu b, Josep Maria Santamaria Puig b, Olga Calviño Domínguez a, Yvonne Fernández Pagés a
PMCID: PMC7659824  PMID: 19054454

Abstract

Objective

To determine the validity of the rapid antigen test (RAT) OSOM StrepA Genzyme for the diagnosis of acute pharyngitis caused by group A beta-haemolytic strep (GABHS).

Design

Diagnostic techniques survey.

Setting

Urban primary care centre, Spain.

Participants

All patients over 14 years old seen in 6 surgeries with sore throat and 2 or more Centor criteria: pharyngotonsillar exudate, tender laterocervical nodes, absence of coughing, and/or history or presence of fever.

Principal measurements

Pharyngeal swabs were taken from all the patients, one for RAT and another to send for culture in the microbiology department.

Results

A total of 182 patients were evaluable, with a mean age of 30.6 (12.1) years of which 116 were women (63.7%); 63 patients had 2 Centor criteria; 83 had 3 and 36, the 4 criteria. The culture was positive in 102 patients (56%), with GABHS showing infection in forty (22%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 21.2-22.8). Group C Streptococcus was isolated in 26 patients (14.3%). GABHS was higher among patients with four Centor criteria (38.9% vs 25.3% observed among those with 3 criteria and 7.9% with 2 criteria; P<.001). Sensitivity of RAT was 95%, with a specificity of 93%, a positive predictive value of 79.2% and a negative predictive value of 98.5%.

Conclusions

These results show the usefulness of RAT for diagnosing streptococcal pharyngitis. Its use should be spread to all primary care practices.

Key words: Pharyngitis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Rapid antigen test, Group A beta-haemolytic Streptococcus

Footnotes

☆

Financiación: Hemos dispuesto de forma gratuita de tiras OSOM StrepA de Genzyme, que han sido facilitadas por el Laboratorio Leti. No hemos recibido ninguna cuantía económica directa o indirecta de dicho laboratorio para la realización de este estudio.

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