Pakistan prevalence survey in acute pharyngitis

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Acute pharyngitis is a common condition with Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS) as a significant bacterial cause.
• Accurate and timely diagnosis of GABHS pharyngitis is crucial to prevent complications and guide antibiotic therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of GABHS in patients presenting with acute pharyngitis.
• To evaluate the correlation between the Modified Centor Score and the Rapid Antigen Detection Test (RADT) for diagnosing GABHS pharyngitis.

Main Methods:

• A multi-center, prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in Pakistan involving 5140 patients with acute pharyngitis.
• Patients underwent assessment using the Modified Centor Score and testing with RADT for GABHS.
• Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 19.

Main Results:

• GABHS was detected in 25.3% of patients with acute pharyngitis.
• A strong positive correlation was observed between the Modified Centor Score and RADT results (p < 0.001).
• The prevalence of GABHS did not significantly differ across age groups (p < 0.08).

Conclusions:

• GABHS is a prevalent cause of acute pharyngitis, identified in approximately one-quarter of cases.
• The Modified Centor Score demonstrates strong positive correlation with RADT, aiding in the clinical identification of GABHS pharyngitis.