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Published on: June 14, 2020
Pharyngotonsillitis due to Arcanobacterium haemolyticum in northern Israel
Yael Chen1, Raul Colodner, Bibiana Chazan
1Infectious Diseases Unit and Microbiology Laboratory, HaEmek Medical Center, Afula, Israel. chen_ya@clalit.org.il
Background:
Arcanobacterium haemolyticum is a well-recognized but uncommon cause of pharyngitis and skin rash in adolescents and young adults. To date, no data regarding its frequency in Israel have been published.
Objective:
To establish the frequency of A. haemolyticum in throat cultures in a northern Israeli population and to estimate the clinical significance of this pathogen in patients with sore throat.
Methods:
We examined suspected colonies for A haemolyticum by gram stain, catalase test and reverse CAMP test in 518 throat cultures sent to the microbiologic laboratory of HaEmek Medical Center.
Results:
Of the throat cultures tested, A. haemolyticum was recovered from one patient (0.2%). In contrast, group A Streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes) was recovered from 135 patients (26%).
Conclusion:
A hemolyticum is an uncommon pathogen implicated in acute pharyngitis, therefore routine screening in throat swabs is not required.
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