Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases
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Scand. J. Infect. Dis. · May 2014
Are procalcitonin or other infection markers useful in the detection of group A streptococcal acute tonsillitis?
The Centor criteria and the streptococcal rapid antigen detection test (RADT) are commonly used to differentiate sore throat patients with group A streptococci (GAS) from patients with other pathogens. We aimed to investigate if procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WBC), and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) could increase the diagnostic accuracy when added to the Centor score and RADT, or be used instead of the RADT, in the differential diagnosis. ⋯ The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve of the RADT were higher than those of the 4 measured infection markers in the differentiation between GAS and non-GAS acute tonsillitis patients. The infection markers did not increase the diagnostic accuracy when added to the Centor score and RADT. When RADT is not available, measurement of CRP or ANC may increase the diagnostic accuracy in the detection of GAS-positive patients.