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Detection of asymptomatic oropharyngeal carriage of streptococcus pyogenes using two diagnostic methods

Abstract:

Introduction: Streptococcus pyogenes causes suppurative skin, mucosal and systemic infections. Timely detection is important to avoid the development of nonsuppurative complications. In addition, carrier status can be a potential source of autoinoculation or infectious outbreaks. Objective: To establish the status as S. pyogenes carriers of medical students using two diagnostic methods. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with convenience sampling, in which samples from the oropharynx were analyzed by enzyme Strep-A immunoassay and bacterial culture on sheep blood agar at 5%, plus differential tests to detect the presence of S. pyogenes. Results: Out of 77 samples included in the analysis, 3 (3.9%) were positive for the microbiological culture for S. pyogenes and none for the Strep-A method. Conclusion: Finding the bacterium S. pyogenes among asymptomatic medical students is a warning sign of a potential infection. The comparison of the diagnostic methods for detection showed that the findings validate the use of the culture over Strep-A, if estimating the presence of carriers of said agent is desired.