Prevalence Study of Group a Streptococci and Its Antimicrobial Sensitivity Pattern in Upper Respiratory Tract Infections of All Age Groups in a Tertiary Health Care Centre in Chengalpet District

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Streptococcus pyogenes is a medically significant member of the Streptococci. This bacterial illness affects the people frequently. It also results in toxin-related reactions, life-threatening soft tissue infections, and a range of suppurative diseases on the skin and in the respiratory system. The disease primarily affects children between 5 to 15 years old. Aim: To find the prevalence and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of Streptococcus pyogenes in upper respiratory tract infections in a tertiary health care centre. Materials and methods: A prospective study, it was carried out between August 2021 and March 2022. The research was carried out in a tertiary medical facility close to Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India. The Institutional Scientific and Ethical Committees have given their prior consent. Throat swabs were collected from all age groups having upper respiratory tract infections as per standard protocols. Streptococcus pyogenes were isolated through throat swabs using conventional culture methods phenotypically and by resistance pattern were examined by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences(SPSS) software version 24.0. Results: Out of 50 throat swabs from patients processed bacteriologically, 8 (40%) were Streptococcus pyogenes which shows the prevalence was relatively low in a period of the global covid 19 pandemic. A majority of cases occurred between 5 to 15 years of age, followed by 17(34%), 13(26%) between 16 to 30 and 31 to 45 years of age, and 5 (10%) between 46 to 60. Streptococcal infection was observed to harm men more frequently (58%) than women. Chloramphenicol and Erythromycin are 100% resistant, Cotrimoxazole is 37.5% resistant, Ofloxacin is 12.5% resistant and Bacitracin, Cefepime, Ceftriaxone, Cefazolin, Penicillin, Tetracycline, Linezolid, Vancomycin are found to be sensitive towards Streptococcus pyogenes. Conclusion: It was concluded that the prevalence of Streptococcus pyogenes is relatively low among the study population in a period of the global covid 19 pandemic. Antibiotics Chloramphenicol and Erythromycin were found to be resistant and Bacitracin, Cefepime, Ceftriaxone, Cefazolin, Penicillin, Tetracycline, Linezolid, Vancomycin were found to be sensitive for Streptococcus pyogenes.