title: [Streptococcal pharyngitis in the pediatric emergency department: value and impact of rapid antigen detection test].
abstract: The French Health Agency (Afssaps) recommands the resort to the streptocoque rapid test strip for a better targetting of antibiotics prescription.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the systematic use of the test in a pediatric emergengy department.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison of results of the test to the laboratory cultures. Our study took place between January and December 2004. Two thousand one hundred (and) forty-four children with acute pharyngitis have been included (mean age: 4.8+/-3.6 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group A streptococcus was involved in 57 pharyngitis (26%). Mean age of children with positive culture was 7+/-3 years versus 4+/-3 years if culture was negative (p>0.05). The test sensitivity was 77% (CI 95%: 65-86) and its specificity 82% (CI 95%: 75-87), the positive predictive value was 60% (CI 95%: 49-71) and the negative predictive value 91% (CI 95%: 85-95). Antibiotic prescriptions have diminished: no prescription for 70% of pharyngitis and for 93% if cultures were negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rapid test strip wide use has a strong repercussion on the antibiotics prescription. This test is realist in pediatric emergency unit.
authors.affiliation: Service des urgences pédiatriques, hôpital Flaubert, groupe hospitalier, 55 bis, rue Gustave-Flaubert, 76600 Le Havre, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Buchbinder
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benzdira
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Belgaïd
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dufour
authors.forename: J-C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Paon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Le Roux
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial