title: Selective testing strategies for diagnosing group A streptococcal infection in children with pharyngitis: a systematic review and prospective multicentre external validation study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several clinical prediction rules for diagnosing group A streptococcal infection in children with pharyngitis are available. We aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of rules-based selective testing strategies in a prospective cohort of children with pharyngitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified clinical prediction rules through a systematic search of MEDLINE and Embase (1975-2014), which we then validated in a prospective cohort involving French children who presented with pharyngitis during a 1-year period (2010-2011). We diagnosed infection with group A streptococcus using two throat swabs: one obtained for a rapid antigen detection test (StreptAtest, Dectrapharm) and one obtained for culture (reference standard). We validated rules-based selective testing strategies as follows: low risk of group A streptococcal infection, no further testing or antibiotic therapy needed; intermediate risk of infection, rapid antigen detection for all patients and antibiotic therapy for those with a positive test result; and high risk of infection, empiric antibiotic treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 8 clinical prediction rules, 6 of which could be prospectively validated. Sensitivity and specificity of rules-based selective testing strategies ranged from 66% (95% confidence interval [CI] 61-72) to 94% (95% CI 92-97) and from 40% (95% CI 35-45) to 88% (95% CI 85-91), respectively. Use of rapid antigen detection testing following the clinical prediction rule ranged from 24% (95% CI 21-27) to 86% (95% CI 84-89). None of the rules-based selective testing strategies achieved our diagnostic accuracy target (sensitivity and specificity>85%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rules-based selective testing strategies did not show sufficient diagnostic accuracy in this study population. The relevance of clinical prediction rules for determining which children with pharyngitis should undergo a rapid antigen detection test remains questionable.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Cohen J.F., Chalumeau), Research Center for Epidemiology and Biostatistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France; Department of Pediatrics (Cohen J.F., Chalumeau), Necker-Enfants-Malades Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France; Association Clinique et Thérapeutique Infantile du Val-de-Marne (Cohen R., Levy, Benani), Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France; Department of Microbiology (Cohen R.), Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France; Clinical Research Center (Levy), Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France; Association Française de Pédiatrie Ambulatoire (Thollot), Essey-lès-Nancy, France; Department of Microbiology (Bidet), Robert Debré Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris Diderot University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France jeremie.cohen@inserm.fr.
authors.forename: Jérémie F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Cohen J.F., Chalumeau), Research Center for Epidemiology and Biostatistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France; Department of Pediatrics (Cohen J.F., Chalumeau), Necker-Enfants-Malades Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France; Association Clinique et Thérapeutique Infantile du Val-de-Marne (Cohen R., Levy, Benani), Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France; Department of Microbiology (Cohen R.), Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France; Clinical Research Center (Levy), Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France; Association Française de Pédiatrie Ambulatoire (Thollot), Essey-lès-Nancy, France; Department of Microbiology (Bidet), Robert Debré Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris Diderot University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Cohen J.F., Chalumeau), Research Center for Epidemiology and Biostatistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France; Department of Pediatrics (Cohen J.F., Chalumeau), Necker-Enfants-Malades Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France; Association Clinique et Thérapeutique Infantile du Val-de-Marne (Cohen R., Levy, Benani), Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France; Department of Microbiology (Cohen R.), Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France; Clinical Research Center (Levy), Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France; Association Française de Pédiatrie Ambulatoire (Thollot), Essey-lès-Nancy, France; Department of Microbiology (Bidet), Robert Debré Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris Diderot University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Cohen J.F., Chalumeau), Research Center for Epidemiology and Biostatistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France; Department of Pediatrics (Cohen J.F., Chalumeau), Necker-Enfants-Malades Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France; Association Clinique et Thérapeutique Infantile du Val-de-Marne (Cohen R., Levy, Benani), Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France; Department of Microbiology (Cohen R.), Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France; Clinical Research Center (Levy), Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France; Association Française de Pédiatrie Ambulatoire (Thollot), Essey-lès-Nancy, France; Department of Microbiology (Bidet), Robert Debré Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris Diderot University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thollot
authors.affiliation: Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Cohen J.F., Chalumeau), Research Center for Epidemiology and Biostatistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France; Department of Pediatrics (Cohen J.F., Chalumeau), Necker-Enfants-Malades Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France; Association Clinique et Thérapeutique Infantile du Val-de-Marne (Cohen R., Levy, Benani), Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France; Department of Microbiology (Cohen R.), Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France; Clinical Research Center (Levy), Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France; Association Française de Pédiatrie Ambulatoire (Thollot), Essey-lès-Nancy, France; Department of Microbiology (Bidet), Robert Debré Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris Diderot University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benani
authors.affiliation: Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Cohen J.F., Chalumeau), Research Center for Epidemiology and Biostatistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France; Department of Pediatrics (Cohen J.F., Chalumeau), Necker-Enfants-Malades Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France; Association Clinique et Thérapeutique Infantile du Val-de-Marne (Cohen R., Levy, Benani), Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France; Department of Microbiology (Cohen R.), Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France; Clinical Research Center (Levy), Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France; Association Française de Pédiatrie Ambulatoire (Thollot), Essey-lès-Nancy, France; Department of Microbiology (Bidet), Robert Debré Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris Diderot University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bidet
authors.affiliation: Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Cohen J.F., Chalumeau), Research Center for Epidemiology and Biostatistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France; Department of Pediatrics (Cohen J.F., Chalumeau), Necker-Enfants-Malades Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France; Association Clinique et Thérapeutique Infantile du Val-de-Marne (Cohen R., Levy, Benani), Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France; Department of Microbiology (Cohen R.), Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France; Clinical Research Center (Levy), Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France; Association Française de Pédiatrie Ambulatoire (Thollot), Essey-lès-Nancy, France; Department of Microbiology (Bidet), Robert Debré Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris Diderot University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chalumeau
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000592:standards; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D054928:Validation Studies as Topic