Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

JMIR Hum Factors 2019 Apr 15;6(2):e12471. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States.

Background: Potential of the electronic health records (EHR) and clinical decision support (CDS) systems to improve the practice of medicine has been tempered by poor design and the resulting burden they place on providers. CDS is rarely tested in the real clinical environment. As a result, many tools are hard to use, placing strain on providers and resulting in low adoption rates. Read More

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2019 Apr;40(4):438-446

Center for Medication Safety (VAMedSAFE),Hines Veterans Affairs Medical Center,Chicago, Illinois.

Background: Antibiotics are overprescribed for acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs). Guidelines provide criteria to determine which patients should receive antibiotics. We assessed congruence between documentation of ARI diagnostic and treatment practices with guideline recommendations, treatment appropriateness, and outcomes. Read More

BMC Pediatr 2019 Apr 8;19(1):99. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Pediatrics, NU-Hospital Group, Uddevalla, Sweden.

Background: The prevalence of periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome is unknown. Although an uncommon condition, it is considered to be the most common autoinflammatory disease among children in many parts of the world. The knowledge of the consequences of the recurrent fever episodes for the child and its family are limited. Read More

Georgian Med News 2019 Feb(287):51-56

Odessa National Medical University, Ukraine.

Aim - to study the effect of different pathogens (EBV, CMV, HHV-6, and MIXT) on the severity of clinical-paraclinical manifestations of infectious mononucleosis in children. The clinical and laboratory study performed for 410 children aged from 10 months up to 12 years with infectious mononucleosis. The association of herpes viruses, mainly EBV, CMV and HHV type 6, takes part in the formation of the clinical picture of IM in (52,9%) of cases. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 Apr 3;9(4):e026251. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Division of General Internal Medicine, Jichi Medical University Hospital, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.

Objectives: To investigate oral antibiotic prescribing patterns and identify factors associated with antibiotic prescriptions, with the aim of guiding future interventions to reduce inappropriate prescribing.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Database of public health insurance claims in Kumamoto prefecture (Japan). Read More

Pediatr Dermatol 2019 Mar 31. Epub 2019 Mar 31.

Department of Dermatology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia.

A 10-year-old girl, suspected 2 days prior to have streptococcal pharyngitis, presented with diffuse erythema, tense bullae, Nikolsky-positive desquamation, as well as ulcerations of her oral and genital mucosa. She denied recent travel, sick contacts, or preceding and concurrent use of medications, including over-the-counter and herbal supplements. A comprehensive viral polymerase chain reaction (PCR) panel, Mycoplasma pneumoniae PCR and IgM, streptococcal molecular antigen test, urine culture, blood culture, and rheumatologic serologies were negative. Read More

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med 2019 8;6(3):001041. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Internal Medicine Department, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Lisbon, Portugal.

Periodic fever with pharyngitis, aphthous stomatitis and cervical adenitis (PFAPA syndrome) is a common cause of periodic fever in children and usually manifests as episodes of fever recurring with a clockwork periodicity. Although rare after adolescence, adult patients with PFAPA syndrome may present with a wider range of symptoms and may lack the clockwork periodicity of fever. A 24-year-old patient presented with a 4-year history of periodic fever with pharyngitis and cervical adenitis. Read More

J Clin Microbiol 2019 Apr 28;57(4). Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Osaka Institute of Public Health, Osaka, Japan.

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2019 Feb;160(2):187-205

15 Department of Research and Quality, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, Alexandria, Virginia, USA.

Objective: This update of a 2011 guideline developed by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation provides evidence-based recommendations on the pre-, intra-, and postoperative care and management of children 1 to 18 years of age under consideration for tonsillectomy. Tonsillectomy is defined as a surgical procedure performed with or without adenoidectomy that completely removes the tonsil, including its capsule, by dissecting the peritonsillar space between the tonsil capsule and the muscular wall. Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures in the United States, with 289,000 ambulatory procedures performed annually in children <15 years of age, based on the most recent published data. Read More

Malays J Med Sci 2018 Nov 28;25(6):6-21. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

This review highlights the clinical scoring tools used for the management of acute pharyngotonsillitis in primary care clinics. It will include the prevalence of group A pharyngotonsillitis among children and adults worldwide and the selective tests employed for diagnosing group A streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis. Pharyngotonsillitis is one of the common reasons for visits to primary care clinics worldwide, and physicians tend to prescribe antibiotics according to the clinical symptoms, which leads to overprescribing antibiotics. Read More

Pol Merkur Lekarski 2019 Mar;46(273):115-121

Medical University of Warsaw: Department of Pediatrics and Nephrology.

Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) is a complication of infection with group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus. The disease manifests as microscopic/gross hematuria, arterial hypertension, edema, and acute kidney injury and has most commonly self-limiting course.

Aim: The aim of study was the analysis of clinical course of APSGN in period of increased incidence in the first half of 2018. Read More

MMW Fortschr Med 2019 Mar;161(Suppl 1):31-39

, Ludwigstr. 7, D-86150, Augsburg, Deutschland.

Molecules 2019 Mar 24;24(6). Epub 2019 Mar 24.

Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.

There is a growing interest in medicinal plants which have been traditionally used for the treatment of human infections. This study assessed 14 ethanol extracts (EEs) on bacterial growth and biofilm formation of . Constituent major phytochemicals in the extracts were identified using ultra performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS). Read More

Pediatr Infect Dis J 2019 Mar 21. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan.

Background: Saffold virus (SAFV) is a novel human cardiovirus that was identified in 2007. Recently, SAFV has been isolated from nasal and stool specimens of infants presenting with respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms and from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens of children with central nervous system infection. However, little is known regarding clinical characteristics of SAFV in children. Read More

Acta Paediatr 2019 Mar 22. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

PEDEGO Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.

Aim: Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome is the most common cause of a periodic fever in childhood. The exact pathogenesis and the aetiology of PFAPA are still unknown.

Methods: We conducted a non-systematic review of published articles about PFAPA syndrome and summarised the evidence for diagnostic criteria and treatment options for PFAPA. Read More

Saudi J Biol Sci 2019 Mar 26;26(3):577-581. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China.

Objective: Observe anti-inflammatory effect and the effect on acute pharyngitis rats model induced by ammonia water of compound Lobelia oral liquid, providing experimental basis for its clinical use.

Methods: Use egg white establish foot swelling rats model and use carboxymethyl cellulose establish white blood cell migration rats model. Then observe the anti-inflammatory effect of compound Lobelia oral liquid. Read More

J Laryngol Otol 2019 Feb;133(2):161-163

Department of Oto-rhino-laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,Copenhagen University Hospital,Denmark.

Background: Parapharyngeal abscess and mediastinitis are rare but very severe post-operative complications following an elective tonsillectomy. Parapharyngeal abscess as a complication to tonsilectomy is very seldom described in the literature and no cases in the paediatric population have been described.Case reportThis paper presents, to our knowledge, the first case of life-threatening parapharyngeal abscess and mediastinitis following elective adenotonsillectomy in an otherwise healthy, fully vaccinated 10-year-old girl. Read More

Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2019 May 19;15(5):571-575. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

b Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease , Cukurova University , Adana , Turkey.

Objectives: Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, adenitis syndrome is characterized by recurrent episodes of fever. Attenuated disease severity was considered in patients with Mediterranean fever (MEFV) gene variations. Corticosteroids are highly effective in controlling the symptoms but usually cause more frequent episodes. Read More

Pediatr Infect Dis J 2019 Apr;38(4):396-397

Division of Infectious Diseases in the Departments of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

In this secondary analysis of the Randomized Intervention for Children with Vesicoureteral Reflux cohort, we found that daily prophylaxis with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was not associated with an increased or decreased risk of skin and soft tissue infections, pharyngitis or sinopulmonary infections in otherwise healthy children 2-71 months of age. Read More

Tohoku J Exp Med 2019 03;247(3):173-178

Infectious Disease Surveillance Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases.

Infection control in nursery schools and schools is important for community health and the health of children. In Japan, caregivers of children or students usually report the absence due to illness to their attending nurseries or schools, including symptoms and diagnosed diseases. The (Nursery) School Absenteeism Surveillance System, (N)SASSy, covers about 60% of schools and 40% of nurseries in Japan. Read More

Scott Med J 2019 Mar 12:36933019836405. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

5 Professor, Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Turkey.

Hyperimmunoglobulinaemia D syndrome is an autoinflammatory disease usually representing recurrent episodes of fever, arthralgia/arthritis, cervical lymphadenopathy, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and skin rashes lasting 3-7 days every 4-8 weeks since their infancy. Recent reports suggested a link between perianal fistulae/abscess and severe colitis with hyperimmunoglobulinaemia D syndrome resembling an inflammatory bowel disease phenotype. Herein, we report an 18-month-old patient with recurrent attacks of fever and pharyngitis lasting 2-3 days every 10-15 days since the first two weeks of life. Read More

N Engl J Med 2019 Mar;380(10):e11

University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Mar;98(10):e14702

Department of Paediatric Orthopaedics, Medical University of Lublin.

Rationale: In the recent years, growing interest is focused on the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in wound healing and tissue regeneration. There are a number of papers regarding the usefulness of PRP in the healing of ulcerations, skin injures, bone loss or distraction osteogenesis. Most authors emphasize the safety of PRP usage due to its authogenic nature. Read More

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2019 Mar 9. Epub 2019 Mar 9.

Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, The Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poriya, Tiberias, Israel.

We compared the performance of two rapid antigen tests-QuikRead go® Strep A test (Orion Diagnostica, Espoo, Finland) and BD Veritor™ system (Becton, Dickinson and Company, Sparks, MD) with throat culture. Our aim was to evaluate each assay's performance and agreement compared to throat culture in order to choose one of the assays as a point-of-care test in the emergency room. One hundred throat samples were collected in triplicates from patients with suspected pharyngitis admitted to the emergency room. Read More

Front Immunol 2019 21;10:198. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.

is a major human pathogen causing a variety of diseases ranging from common pharyngitis to life-threatening soft tissue infections and sepsis. Microbial nucleic acids, especially bacterial RNA, have recently been recognized as a major group of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) involved in the detection of via endosomal Toll-like receptors (TLRs) . However, the individual contribution and cooperation between TLRs as well as cell-type and strain specific differences in dependency on nucleic acid detection during infection have not been clarified in detail. Read More

J Chiropr Med 2018 Dec 20;17(4):268-274. Epub 2019 Jan 20.

National University of Health Sciences, St. Petersburg, FL.

Objective: The purpose of this case report is to describe the treatment of a patient with acute sinusitis using .

Clinical Features: A 26-year-old woman presented with acute sinusitis of 10-day duration Her symptoms included facial pressure and soreness around the frontal and maxillary sinuses, a headache, pharyngitis, a fever, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion with postnasal drip, a productive cough, myalgias, and fatigue

Intervention And Outcome: After administration of 12 to 15 drops of a 2 000-mg tincture of twice a day, improvements were noted Resolution of her symptoms occurred after 3 days of treatment.

Conclusion: For the treatment of acute sinusitis, may be a natural therapeutic remedy. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019 03 6;3:CD001976. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

Royal Blackburn Hospital, Haslingden Road, Blackburn, UK, BB2 3HH.

Background: Guttate psoriasis is a distinctive acute form of psoriasis which characteristically occurs in children and young adults. It is closely associated with preceding streptococcal sore throat or tonsillitis. Some authorities have claimed that ordinary (chronic plaque) psoriasis may also be made worse by infection at distant sites. Read More

Clin Exp Immunol 2019 Feb 27. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.

Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin (Spe) A expression is epidemiologically linked to streptococcal tonsillo-pharyngitis and outbreaks of scarlet fever, although the mechanisms by which superantigens confer advantage to Streptococcus pyogenes are unclear. S. pyogenes is an exclusively human pathogen. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2019 Feb 26;19(1):193. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

Primary Care Innovations Lab, Department of Family Medicine, UW Northgate Clinic, University of Washington, Box 354696, 314 NE Thornton Place, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.

Background: Clinical guidelines for the diagnosis of group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis recommend the use of a rapid antigen detection test (RADT) and/or bacterial culture. This study evaluated the overall diagnosis and treatment of acute pharyngitis in the United States, including predictors of test type and antibiotic prescription.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of pharyngitis events from 2011 through 2015 was conducted using the MarketScan commercial/Medicare databases. Read More

Indian Pediatr 2019 Jan;56(1):49-52

Department of Pediatrics, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Objective: To assess the validity of modified Centor Score in predicting streptococcal pharyngitis, and describe the antibiotic sensitivity of streptococcal strains.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 120 children (age 1-18 y) with signs and symptoms of pharyngitis was undertaken in the pediatric department of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Chennai from July 2015 to April 2016. Modified Centor score was calculated for all children, and streptococcal sore throat was confirmed by throat swab culture. Read More

Case Rep Med 2019 16;2019:4674875. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.

Introduction: Streptococcal pharyngitis has been historically complicated with systemic involvement manifesting as acute rheumatic fever, which is a serious condition that can lead to permanent damage to heart valves. A recent association between streptococcal pharyngitis and nonrheumatic heart disease is emerging in literature. We present a case of nonrheumatic streptococcal myocarditis diagnosed using cardiac MRI. Read More

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2019 Feb;160(1_suppl):S1-S42

15 Department of Research and Quality, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, Alexandria, Virginia, USA.

Objective: This update of a 2011 guideline developed by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation provides evidence-based recommendations on the pre-, intra-, and postoperative care and management of children 1 to 18 years of age under consideration for tonsillectomy. Tonsillectomy is defined as a surgical procedure performed with or without adenoidectomy that completely removes the tonsil, including its capsule, by dissecting the peritonsillar space between the tonsil capsule and the muscular wall. Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures in the United States, with 289,000 ambulatory procedures performed annually in children <15 years of age based on the most recent published data. Read More

Rheumatol Int 2019 Feb 23. Epub 2019 Feb 23.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, 06100, Ankara, Turkey.

Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome is a recurrent fever syndrome of early childhood with increasing number of adult-onset cases. Although it is a self-limited disease, it may negatively affect the quality of life. The aim of this review is to present a detailed analysis of PFAPA syndrome and an algorithm for diagnosis, therapeutic options, and evaluation of outcome. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Feb 21;12(2). Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Department of Urology, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cheltenham, UK.

Juvenile gangrenous vasculitis of the scrotum is a rare entity, of which to our knowledge we describe the first documented case in the UK. It follows a typical disease course, demonstrated by an 18-year-old male who presented with three necrotic scrotal lesions; proceeded by 3 days of fever, pharyngitis and lethargy. Previous cases have been managed successfully with systemic steroids. Read More

PLoS One 2019 19;14(2):e0212180. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Scientific Research Centre, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.

Objectives: To evaluate the associations of pre-endoscopy anxiety with discomfort and tolerance in patients undergoing unsedated esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).

Methods: This is a hospital-based cohort study of 348 patients undergoing routine, non-advanced EGD without sedation. The primary outcomes were discomfort and tolerance. Read More

Lett Appl Microbiol 2019 Apr 13;68(4):303-312. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.

Direct antagonism towards pathogens including Streptococcus pyogenes is a proposed mechanism of pharyngeal probiosis but off-target effects on the symbiotic microbiota of the throat are possible and may be beneficial, harmful or neutral. We have assessed the bacteriological effects of two candidate Lactobacillus probiotics and the established pharyngeal probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12. Antagonism towards S. Read More

ACG Case Rep J 2018 19;5:e99. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.

The species is known for its association with septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein (Lemierre's syndrome). Lemierre's syndrome is associated with septic emboli to the liver and lungs, often causing multiple abscesses. We present a unique case of septicemia in which the bacteria invaded the portal vein through the gastrointestinal mucosa due to diverticulitis and spread hematogenously to the liver and lungs, causing abscesses. Read More

J Infect Chemother 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of General Medicine and Emergency Care, Toho University School of Medicine, Japan.

Introduction: Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is a common viral infection that typically causes fever, pharyngitis, and lymphadenopathy in young patients. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the most common cause of IM, followed by cytomegalovirus (CMV). Given that serological testing is associated with limitations regarding its accuracy, availability, and time to receive results, clinical differentiation based on symptoms, signs, and basic tests would be useful. Read More

Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Maxillofacial surgery Trainees Research Collaborative, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow.

The role of corticosteroids in the management of cervicofacial infections continues to cause controversy. Systemic anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects that reduce swelling and improve symptoms in the head and neck may make these agents an effective addition to the antibiotics used and to surgical management, although this same effect may dull the physiological response to infection, and allow infections to progress. We have systematically reviewed the evidence for the use of corticosteroids in common cervicofacial infections following the PRISMA guidelines. Read More

Int J Emerg Med 2018 16;11:49. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

4Department of Pediatric Emergency, College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAUHS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Pharyngitis is one of the major and commonly seen presentations in pediatric emergency departments. While it could be caused by both bacterial and viral pathogens, antibiotics are improperly prescribed regardless of the pathogen. Inappropriate usage of antibiotics has risen the concern of microbial resistance and the need for stricter guidelines. Read More

Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Purpose: To investigate the safety and toxicity of percutaneous hepatic perfusion with melphalan (M-PHP) with the Delcath Systems' second-generation (GEN 2) filter and compare the outcomes with historical data from studies using the first-generation filter.

Materials And Methods: A prospective, single-arm, single-center phase II study was carried out including 35 patients with unresectable, histologically confirmed liver metastases from ocular melanoma between February 2014 and June 2017. Main exclusion criteria were extrahepatic disease and age > 75 years. Read More

Minerva Pediatr 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Pediatri di Famiglia, Federazione Italiana Medici Pediatri (FIMP), Sezione Provinciale di Catania, Catania, Italy.

Background: Sore throat frequently occurs in children aged between 4 and 15 years and is often associated to inflammation of the upper respiratory tract mucosa. A reliable approach to limit the damage caused by inflammation and, therefore, to alleviate associated symptoms might be the protection of the mucosa. Aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of a medical device, formulated as a gummy lozenge and containing a combination of natural functional components (erysimum, aloe vera and Xilogel®) able to exert a barrier effect on the mucosa, as ancillary treatment in children with sore throat. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2019 29;6. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Charité- Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is a rare autoimmune bullous disease of the mucous membranes, which can cause irreversible scarring and is discussed to be associated with cancer, if laminin-332-autoantibodies are present. MMP with severe ocular and laryngeal involvement is difficult to treat and can be treatment-refractory to conventional immunosuppressant therapy. A 67-year-old man with a history of prostate cancer presented to our clinic with sore throat, intraoral bullae, odynophagia, dysphonia, exertional dyspnea, and erosions of the glans penis. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2019 29;6. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department of Dermatology, University Clinics, Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany.

Erysipelas is a severe streptococcal infection of the skin primarily spreading through the lymphatic vessels. Penicillin is the treatment of choice. The most common complication consists in relapses which occur in up to 40% or more of patients despite appropriate antibiotic treatment. Read More

mSphere 2019 02 13;4(1). Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Tropical Diseases, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Group A (GAS) is a major cause of global infection-related morbidity and mortality. A modern controlled human infection model (CHIM) of GAS pharyngitis can accelerate vaccine development and pathogenesis research. A robust rationale for strain selection is central to meeting ethical, scientific, and regulatory requirements. Read More

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med 2018 27;5(12):000987. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Serviço de Cardiologia, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.

Acute non-rheumatic streptococcal myopericarditis (ANRSM) is a rare complication of an upper airway infection by streptococcus group A in developed countries. Cardiac involvement in bacterial infections must be adequately treated because it can lead to long-term complications. This case report describes recurrent ANRSM in an 18-year-old man, which illustrates how difficult and challenging the diagnosis of this disease can be. Read More

Pediatr Infect Dis J 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.

Background: Timely, accurate diagnosis of streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis prevents ARF and limits antibiotic overuse. The Illumigene® Group A Streptococcus assay (Meridian Bioscience) is a molecular test for GAS pharyngitis with high sensitivity and specificity. We sought to determine whether the Illumigene test is more likely than throat culture to be positive in patients without pharyngeal symptoms and explore the limits of detection of the test. Read More

Infect Immun 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport, 1501 Kings Highway P.O. Box 33932, Shreveport, LA 71130-3932, USA

is an emerging human pathogen that causes pharyngitis and wound infections. A few studies have suggested that is able to induce its uptake into non-phagocytic epithelial cells, but the bacterial factors associated with host-cell invasion and the host-cell processes involved have yet to be studied. We investigated how two virulence factors, arcanolysin and phospholipase D, affect the ability of the bacteria to adhere to and subsequently invade Detroit 562 pharyngeal epithelial cells. Read More