A clinical study of throat culture in pediatric patients

ABSTRACT

Infants and children of 227 cases with respiratory diseases and 743 cases with non-respiratory disease admitted to pediatric department of NMC for 3 years, from Sept. 1974 to Aug. 1977 were taken throat swabs for bacterial cultures and the results were evaluated for various disease state. The following results were obtained 1. Total number of bacteria isolated from respiratory and non-respiratory patients were 87 and 168, respectively. 2. Age distribution of cluture revealed 52% of positively cultured patients were below 6 months of age and 65% were less than 1 year of age. 3. Frequency of bacterial isolation were as follows In respiratory disease, Staphylo. Aureus, Klebsiella, E.Coli, and D.Pneumoniae were isolated in order of frequency. In non-respiratory disease, Staphylo. Aureus, Staphylo. Epidermidis, Klebsiella, D.Pneumoniae, and E.Coli were isolated in order of frequency. 4. Bacterial sensitivity to several antibiotics showed same rate of sensitivity to same kind of antibiotics on the both respiratory and non-respiratory patients. The concept that bacteria from throat swab does not accurately represent the pathogenic organism in the lower respiratory disease should be kept in mind in interpreting the results of the throat culture.