IDENTIFICATION OF STREPTOCOCCUS PYOGENIUS IN THROAT CULTURES OF PATIENTS WITH THROAT PAIN

Background: Streptococcus are gram-positive bacteria that cause various respiratory and systemic pathologies. They are the cause of upper respiratory problems which are usually manifested with clinical signs such as Sore throat, temperature, cough, and difficulty in breathing.

Materials and Methods: To carry out this study, biological samples were taken from the throat of patients who referred symptoms. These samples were subjected to laboratory microbiological examination of the throat culture on the Agar-blood medium. Then, to identify the colonies, differential biochemical tests were performed such as Gram stain, Bacitracin test, and ASO test.

Results: 200 patients aged from 4 to 79 years participated in the study.

After culture in Blood Agar and biochemical differential tests, the following results were obtained:

• 83 cultures (41.5%) were positive for pathogens of the Micrococcacea family, of which 44 males (53.01%) and 39 females (46.99%).

• 50 patients (60.24%) tested positive for ß hemolytic streptococcus type A (streptococcus pyogenus). Average age 34.18 years. All patients had high ASO titers.

Conclusions: This study found an increase in cases of respiratory infections with pyogenic streptococcus in the period January-March in different age groups. The high titer of ASO testifies to the presence of systemic infections in these patients