PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Calviño, Olga
AU  - Llor, Carl
AU  - Gómez, Frederic
AU  - González, Eva
AU  - Sarvisé, Carolina
AU  - Hernández, Silvia
TI  - Association between C-Reactive Protein Rapid Test and Group A Streptococcus Infection in Acute Pharyngitis
AID  - 10.3122/jabfm.2014.03.130315
DP  - 2014 May 01
TA  - The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
PG  - 424--426
VI  - 27
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/27/3/424.short
4100  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/27/3/424.full
SO  - J Am Board Fam Med2014 May 01; 27
AB  - Introduction: The diagnosis of streptococcal infection is usually made with the use of Centor criteria, but some family doctors also rely on the determination of C-reactive protein (CRP) to guide antibiotic therapy. Methods: This was an observational study conducted in a health center. Adults with acute pharyngitis and the presence of the 4 Centor criteria (tonsillar exudates, tender cervical glands, history of fever, and absence of cough) were recruited. The patients underwent a pharyngotonsillar swab for microbiologic study and a CRP rapid test during the consultation. Results: A total of 149 patients were enrolled. The most frequent etiology was group A streptococcus, present in 83 cases (55.7%). The highest CRP concentration was observed among patients with group C streptococcus infection, with a mean of 56.3 mg/L (95% confidence interval, 25.7–86.5 mg/L). For patients with group A streptococcus infection, the mean CRP value was 34.4 (95% confidence interval, 25.6–43.3 mg/L). Conclusion: CRP concentrations are not associated with group A streptococcus infection in patients with acute pharyngitis. The use of this point of care test is therefore not useful for distinguishing patients who require antibiotic therapy.