Biomaterial Database

Throat cultures and rapid tests for diagnosis of group A streptococcal pharyngitis. 1986

R M Centor, and F A Meier, and H P Dalton

This article reviews the use of diagnostic tests to guide management of adults with sore throats. Pharyngitis due to group A beta-hemolytic streptococci represents the major diagnostic concern in these patients. Organisms other than group A streptococci can cause pharyngitis, but their clinical importance and their diagnostic tests have not yet been established. For many years, physicians have used routine throat cultures to diagnose group A streptococcal pharyngitis. Rapid tests have recently been introduced that detect the group A streptococcal antigen on throat swab specimens. Because both tests have high sensitivity and specificity, the choice of tests may depend on test turnaround time. Rapid tests should improve management by decreasing both short-term morbidity and inappropriate use of antibiotics.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010612	Pharyngitis	Inflammation of the throat (PHARYNX).	Sore Throat,Pharyngitides,Sore Throats,Throat, Sore
D010614	Pharynx	A funnel-shaped fibromuscular tube that conducts food to the ESOPHAGUS, and air to the LARYNX and LUNGS. It is located posterior to the NASAL CAVITY; ORAL CAVITY; and LARYNX, and extends from the SKULL BASE to the inferior border of the CRICOID CARTILAGE anteriorly and to the inferior border of the C6 vertebra posteriorly. It is divided into the NASOPHARYNX; OROPHARYNX; and HYPOPHARYNX (laryngopharynx).	Throat,Pharynxs,Throats
D011237	Predictive Value of Tests	In screening and diagnostic tests, the probability that a person with a positive test is a true positive (i.e., has the disease), is referred to as the predictive value of a positive test; whereas, the predictive value of a negative test is the probability that the person with a negative test does not have the disease. Predictive value is related to the sensitivity and specificity of the test.	Negative Predictive Value,Positive Predictive Value,Predictive Value Of Test,Predictive Values Of Tests,Negative Predictive Values,Positive Predictive Values,Predictive Value, Negative,Predictive Value, Positive
D011336	Probability	The study of chance processes or the relative frequency characterizing a chance process.	Probabilities
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000942	Antigens, Bacterial	Substances elaborated by bacteria that have antigenic activity.	Bacterial Antigen,Bacterial Antigens,Antigen, Bacterial
D013290	Streptococcal Infections	Infections with bacteria of the genus STREPTOCOCCUS.	Group A Strep Infection,Group A Streptococcal Infection,Group A Streptococcal Infections,Group B Strep Infection,Group B Streptococcal Infection,Group B Streptococcal Infections,Infections, Streptococcal,Infection, Streptococcal,Streptococcal Infection
D013297	Streptococcus pyogenes	A species of gram-positive, coccoid bacteria isolated from skin lesions, blood, inflammatory exudates, and the upper respiratory tract of humans. It is a group A hemolytic Streptococcus that can cause SCARLET FEVER and RHEUMATIC FEVER.	Flesh-Eating Bacteria,Streptococcus Group A,Bacteria, Flesh-Eating