title: Prevalence of Group CStreptococcusandFusobacterium Necrophorumin Patients With Sore Throat: A Meta-Analysis.
abstract: The prevalence of Group C beta-hemolyticstreptococcusandFusobacterium necrophorumamong patients with sore throat in the outpatient setting has not been previously summarized. We set out to derive prevalence information from the existing literature.
  
  
  
  We performed a systematic review of MEDLINE for studies reporting the prevalence ofF necrophorumor Group Cstreptococcusor both in prospective, consecutive series of outpatients with sore throat, as well as laboratory-based studies of throat cultures submitted from primary care. We limited searches to studies where the majority of data was collected after January 1, 2000, to reflect contemporary microbiological methods and prevalences. Each author independently reviewed the articles for inclusion and abstraction of data; we resolved discrepancies by consensus discussion. We then performed a meta-analysis to calculate the pooled prevalence estimates using a random effects model of raw proportions.
  
  
  
  A total of 16 studies met our inclusion criteria. The overall prevalences of Group CstreptococcusandF necrophorumwere 6.1% (95% CI, 3.2%-9.0%) and 18.9% (95% CI, 10.5%-27.2%), respectively. When stratified by study type, the prevalences of Group CstreptococcusandF necrophorumin laboratory-based studies were 6.6% (95% CI, -1.0% to 14.2%) and 18.8% (95% CI, 6.5%-31.1%), respectively. In primary care patients with sore throat, Group Cstreptococcushad a prevalence of 6.1% (95% CI, 3.1%-9.2%), whileF necrophorumhad a prevalence of 19.4% (95% CI, 14.7%-24.1%).
  
  
  
  Group CstreptococcusandFusobacterium necrophorumare commonly detected in patients with acute pharyngitis. Research is needed, however, to determine whether these bacteria are truly pathogenic in patients with pharyngitis and whether antibiotics reduce the duration of symptoms or the likelihood of complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marchello
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia ebell@uga.edu.
authors.forename: Mark H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ebell
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005674:Fusobacterium Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005675:Fusobacterium necrophorum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Fusobacterium necrophorum prevalence; Group C streptococcus prevalence; pharyngitis; primary care