Infectious Disease

Question 1

What is the gold standard in the diagnosis of a Group A Strep infection?

Answer 1

Throat culture (sensitivity of >90 percent), although the throat culture will not distinguish between an acute illness or colonization

Question 2

Why do we give antibiotics for a GAS throat infection?

Answer 2

Throat infections caused by GAS are known to be self-limited but there are secondary benefits.
They:
- Decrease the duration of symptoms mildly
- Diminishes transmission
- Reduces likelihood of suppurative complications (retropharyngeal and peritonsillar abscesses)
- Prevents the development of acute rheumatic fever if treatment is given within 9 days of illness onset

Question 3

What antibiotic can be given to eradicate the carrier state of GAS?

Answer 3

Clindamycin

Question 4

What is the MOST suggestive clinical finding of Group A Strep infection for a child with sore throat?

Answer 4

Palatal petechiae

Question 5

When are live attenuated vaccines (i.e. MMR, influenza, varicella, rotavirus) contraindicated?

Answer 5

Immunosuppressed patients
During pregnancy
Following receipt of an antibody-containing blood product (up to 11 months)