Nosocomial infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important health risk in pediatric care but is largely preventable by efficient infection control measures. Commonly applied rapid antigen detection tests (RADTs) miss a considerable number of RSV-infected patients. The objective of our analysis was to evaluate whether readily available host parameters are associated with false-n...

OBJECTIVE The sensitivity of a rapid antigen-detection test (RADT) for group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis is critical to whether the test is cost-effective and to whether a confirmatory throat culture is needed. We evaluated a second-generation RADT to determine if its sensitivity varies across the broad clinical spectrum of patients tested for GAS in pediatric outpatient practice. METHO...

Background. Acute pharyngitis caused by Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a common presentation to pediatric emergency departments (ED). Diagnosis with conventional throat culture requires 18-24 hours, which prevents point-of-care treatment decisions. Rapid antigen detection tests (RADT) are faster, but previous reports demonstrate significant operator influence on performance. Objective. To measu...

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis is a very common condition causing significant morbidity in children. Accurate diagnosis followed by appropriate antimicrobial therapy is recommended to prevent postinfectious sequelae. Diagnosis of GAS pharyngitis by a rapid antigen detection test (RADT) or culture in the absence of discriminating clinical findings remains challenging. Validation of new ...

BACKGROUND Acute pharyngitis is one of the most frequent reasons for a GP consultation, and in most cases an antibiotic is prescribed. AIM To determine the impact of rapid antigen detection testing (RADT) to identify group A beta haemolytic streptococcus in acute pharyngitis on the utilisation of antibiotics and appropriateness of their use. DESIGN AND SETTING Cluster randomised controlled ...

BACKGROUND The stability of the accuracy of a diagnostic test is critical to whether clinicians can rely on its result. We aimed to assess whether the performance of a rapid antigen detection test (RADT) for group A streptococcus (GAS) is affected by the clinical spectrum and/or bacterial inoculum size. METHODS Throat swabs were collected from 785 children with pharyngitis in an office-based,...

OBJECTIVES To study the performance of the Becton-Dickinson Link 2 Strep A Rapid Test, a rapid antigen detection test (RADT) for diagnosing streptococcal pharyngitis in children presenting to private offices and to the Pediatric Outpatient Clinic of a university hospital, in relation to clinical criteria (fever, tender anterior cervical lymph nodes, tonsillar exudate and absence of cough), and ...

BACKGROUND There is controversy whether physicians can rely on signs and symptoms to select children with pharyngitis who should undergo a rapid antigen detection test (RADT) for group A streptococcus (GAS). Our objective was to evaluate the efficiency of signs and symptoms in selectively testing children with pharyngitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this multicenter, prospective, cross-sectiona...

OBJECTIVE Rheumatic fever (RF) is well known disease as a result of frequent complication of the group A b-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) tonsillopharyngitis, have noticeably grown for the last 15 years among young generation in the Kyrgyz Republic. It is important to hold a study about the prevalence of RF and GABHS and their susceptibility to antibiotics in the Kyrgyz Republic. MATERIALS A...

OBJECTIVES We tested the following hypotheses: (1) risk-averse general practitioners (GPs) might use more Rapid Antigen Diagnostic Tests (RADTs) in tonsillitis in children, probably to decrease their diagnostic uncertainty regarding the aetiology of the disease (viral vs due to group A Streptococcus); and (2) GPs not using RADT might prescribe more antibiotics when they are risk averse. DESIG...