What is the significance and implications of asymptomatic throat carriers of beta hemolytic streptococci?
Significance Group A streptococcal isolation from throat swab of healthy children and the treatment is still a dilemma! What can be done if the child is found to be a carrier of GAS? Is it recommended to detect the asymptomatic carriers in community other than outbreak investigations?
In our study among school children of 5 to 15 years, the asymptomatic carriage rates of Group F and Group C streptococci was very high when compared to that of Group A. Is there any significance for this and how can we explain.
Do we need to treat the children? If yes what is recommended?
Hi,
it is not recommended to treat the asymptomatic carriers by antibiotics.
And naturally, it is not possible to treat in one moment all contacts (all children in class, their whole families, friends etc.) to eradicate the occurrence of the pathogen.
Hi Tintu
As a general rule, asymptomatic carriage should not be treated. Group F is probably best seen as a group of commensals that can sometimes cause disease, it does not correspond to a particular species. Attached are papers on GAS, GCS, and GGS in children in Mumbai, the IDSA diagnosis and treatment guidelines for GAS pharyngitis/tonsillitis, and an admittedly old study and review of betahaemolytic group F.
Cheers!
/Kristofer
asymptomatic throat carriers of beta hemolytic streptococci & healthy children should not be treated with antibiotics.
it is not recommended to treat the asymptomatic carriers by antibiotics.
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