Abstract
We report a Food-borne group A streptococcus epidemic at Kitasato University campus on July 30 and 31, 2005, believed caused by lunch.
A current mass group A streptococcus infection differing from the food-borne epidemic above occurred at Kitasato University East Hospital, also believed caused by lunch.
Group A streptococcus was detected using a prompt diagnostic kit and bacterial culture from 116 clinical specimens taken from 116 patients with group A streptococcus pharyngitis at Kitasato University East Hospital on August 5, 2005.
To investigate the utility of immunochromatographic detection of group A streptococcus antigen, 116 clinical specimens obtained from pharyngeal membranes by swab were examined using a prompt diagnostic kit for group A streptococcus (ImmunoCard STAT! STREP A TEST) and conventional bacterial culture.
Group A streptococcus positivity differed between the two methods.
Fourteen patients were found to be positive by the prompt diagnostic kit and 23 by bacterial culture.
Four patients showing 1.0×106cfu/mL estimated by the culture were difficult to diagnose with the prompt diagnostic kit, even though the detection sensitivity of this kit was 1.0×106cfu/mL or more.
Conventional bacterial culture should therefore be used in addition to the prompt diagnostic kit to detect group A streptococcns, especially in pharyngeal samples obtained from patients with pharyngitis.
