2016 Volume 4 Issue 2 Pages 116-120
Because of the widespread use of the pneumococcal vaccine, the number of acute otitis media cases, requiring myringotomy, has decreased. However, the overall incidence of acute otitis media has not decreased. Furthermore, resistance to strains of pneumococci not included in the vaccine is a rising problem, increasing the use of rapid Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen detection kit (pneumococcus rapid kit). Herein, we report the effectiveness and potential errors of microbial antigen detection kit, especially the pneumococcus rapid kit.
Sometimes the kit provided false-positive results indicating the presence of mucoid pneumococcal infection. Furthermore the kit provided false-negative results indicating of the presence of group A streptococcus pyogenes infection. As these errors cannot be completely eliminated, we recommend that in more sever acute otitis media cases, bacterial culture should be obtained for a definitive diagnosis.
