 |
| About Bioline | All Journals | Testimonials | Membership | News |
|
||||||
|
||||||
Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol. 26, No. 2, April-June, 2008, pp. 197-198 Correspondence Bacteriological and Molecular Studies of Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis in a South Indian hospital Sindhulina C, Geethalakshmi S, Thenmozhivalli PR, Jose JM, Brahmadathan KN Department of Microbiology, Government Stanley Medical College, Chennai - 600 001 Date of Submission: 19-Aug-2007 Code Number: mb08058 Related article: mb06028 Dear editor, A high level of heterogeneity among the strains of group A streptococci (GAS) circulating in India has been noted. [1],[2],[3] This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of GAS pharyngitis in children and identify the emm types of GAS associated with such infections. Two hundred school children aged four to thirteen years with complaints of sore throat seen at the Pediatric outpatient clinics of a tertiary care hospital were included in the study. The beta-haemolytic streptococci isolated from throat swabs from children with pharyngitis were identified by serogrouping (co-agglutination method) and then subjected to emm typing by an automated gene sequencing technique. [4] As defined by the isolation of group A streptococci, the prevalence of GAS pharyngitis was found to be 6% (12 out of 200). This pilot study shows that symptoms such as pain on swallowing and absence of coryza may be used as possible indicators of GAS pharyngitis [Table]. Ten different emm types were found among the 11 isolates. They were emm 1-2.2, emm 55, emm 57, emm 71 (2 isolates), emm 74, emm 82.1, emm 95, emm 112.2, st 11014 and a unique sequence, designated as subtype number st2002.1. [5] Our results on emm typing show distinct differences from those reported earlier from Chennai. [2] Our finding on the high level of heterogeneity among GAS isolates causing pharyngitis shows that the molecular epidemiology of streptococcal pharyngitis is distinctly different in endemic areas. However, more such hospital-based studies on GAS isolated from acute and invasive GAS infections are necessary to confirm this observation. Acknowledgement We are grateful to Dr. S. Savithri, MD, Deputy Director, Clinical and Diagnostic Section, King Institute of Preventive Medicine, Guindy, Chennai, for providing the facilities and support in preparing the group A co agglutination reagent as a project.References
Copyright 2008 - Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology The following images related to this document are available:Photo images[mb08058t1.jpg] |
| |||||||||
