Throat infections. Clinical and microbiological diagnosis
Schmidt, H.; Hansen, J.G.; Bitsch, N.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 144(25): 1834-1838
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 7135603 Document Number: 5921
The authors undertook a prospective and consecutive investigation of all patients complaining of »sore throats« in general practice. Swabs were taken and cultures subsequently made. These were investigated macroscopically for growth of β-haemolytic streptococci prior to final investigation in a special bacteriological laboratory. The clinical picture was assessed on the basis of the individual symptoms and a positive and a corrected score system. A total of 398 patients participated in the material. β-haemolytic streptococci were demonstrated in 33.9 %. The streptococcal infections proved to be clinically significantly more pronounced than nonstreptococcal infections but the difference was not found to be great enough to differentiate between the two types of infection. Primary culture with macroscopic reading provided the means of differentiating the streptococcal infections with considerably greater certainty. The predictive value of a positive test result with this method was 78 and the predictive value of a negative test result was 95.
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