Antibiotic Susceptibility of Group A Β-Hemolytic Strep- tococci Isolated From Tonsillar Swab Samples in 5-15 Years Old Children

Tonsillopharyngitis is a common infectious disease in the pediatric age group. Group A Beta Hemolytic Streptococcus (GAS) is a main infectious agent of pharyngitis. Optimal therapeutic approach in these patients has been a matter of debate to avoid the complications of infection. The aim of this study was to investigate of antibiotic susceptibility for group A β-hemolytic Streptococci which isolated from tonsillar swab samples of 5-15 years old children. 2599 outpatient children who are 5-15 years old and have general infection symptoms like high fever, weakness, chills-shivering and observed hyperemia at tonsils and pharynx were included in the study. Tonsillopharyngeal culture and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed. 319 (12,3%) GAS isolates was obtained from tonsillopharyngeal cultures of the 2599 patients. Susceptibility to penicillin, vancomycin, linezolid, cefotaxime, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, and clindamycin were 100%, 100%, 100%, 100%, 97,2%, 98,3%, and 94,7% respectively. Resistance to penicillin was not yet observed, penicillin may safely be chosen to treatment of these infections for non-allergic patients to penicillin. It is considered that culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing may be more useful to for the diagnosis and treatment of these patients.