Prevalence of Fusobacterium necrophorum and other upper respiratory tract pathogens isolated from throat swabs.

Prevalence of Fusobacterium necrophorum and other upper respiratory tract pathogens isolated from throat swabs. Br J Biomed Sci. 2005 Jan;62(2):66-70 Authors: Batty A, Wren MWD Abstract Fusobacterium necrophorum, an anaerobic, Gram-negative rod, has been identified recently as a significant cause of persistent sore throat syndrome (PSTS). This disease is characterised by chronic, recurrent or persistent sore throat, which is believed to respond poorly to penicillin in vivo. The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of F. necrophorum in all throat swabs received in our diagnostic microbiology department and to compare the results with those for other recognised respiratory pathogens. All throat swabs received in the laboratory over a four-week period were cultured for β-haemolytic streptococcus groups A, C and G, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum and F. necrophorum. Latex agglutination techniques, phenotypic reactions and antibiograms are used to identify these organisms. The age of the patient and the clinical details as stated on the request form were noted. Among a total of 248 samples, 27 were positive for β-haemolytic streptococcus group A, two were positive for β-haemolytic streptococcus group C, five were positive for β-haemolytic streptococcus group G and 24 were positive for F. necrophorum. The most common isolate in the under 20 age group was β-haemolytic streptococcus group A. In the ov...
Source: British Journal of Biomedical Science - Category: Laboratory Medicine Tags: Br J Biomed Sci Source Type: research