INVESTIGATION OF STREPTOCOCCUS PYOGENES CARRIAGE AMONG PHARMACY STUDENTS IN CYPRUS

Authors : Sahar HADDAD, Mehmet İLKTAÇ, Sultan OGMEN, Gülden ÇELİK

Pages : 1-6

View : 27 | Download : 12

Publication Date : 2019-09-11

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Streptococcus pyogenes is one of the most frequently detected bacterial agent of pharyngitis and skin infections that may result in the late complications of rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis. The aim of the study was to investigate S. pyogenes carriage among pharmacy students in a university in Cyprus. Throat samples were inoculated onto blood agar which was incubated at 37 °C for 48 hours. Gram positive, catalase negative beta hemolytic cocci which were sensitive to bacitracin and resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were identified as S. pyogenes . A total of 140 healthy students were included in the study. 77.1% of students were Iranian, 5% each were Syrian and Iraqi, 4.3% were Nigerian and 8.6% were from other nationalities. Five insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(3.6%); students, all Iranian, were found to be S. pyogenes carriers. 4.6% of Iranian students were determined to carry S. pyogenes . The study is the first study in North Cyprus reporting the low rate of group A beta hemolytic Streptococcus carriage in young adults in Turkish Republic of North Cyprus. 
Keywords : Carriage, S pyogenes, students, throat