Abstract:
Streptococcal infections are of paramount public health concern
affecting
children
and
adults
resulting
in
further
in
fatal
consequences. Hence their rapid and accurate diagnosis is required.
Antistreptolysin O (ASO) test measures the amount of streptolysin O
in the blood. This study was conducted in the Research Laboratory,
Sudan University of Science and Technology during the period
between from May to August 2012. The study was designed to
assess the diagnostic value of ASO test in diagnosis of streptococcal
infections.
A total of 100 throat swabs and 100 blood samples were collected
from patients suspected of
having
throat
infection. For blood
samples ASO test was done qualitative and semi quantitative and
swabs samples were inoculated on bacteriological media for primary
isolation and processed for identification of the causative clinical
agents using cultural characteristics and biochemical tests.
The result showed that 36% of patients were positive for ASO test
while culturing of swabs produced 30% positives, 33% of the positive
swabs culture had high ASO titers. The most affected gender was the
females aged between 2-15 years old.
The study concluded that ASO test was useful and rapid in detecting
streptococcal acute or post-streptococcal infections but its more
valuable in the latter. However further research work is needed to
elucidate the problem and improve the diagnosis of these virulent
.pathogens
