A highly-sensitive rapid test for the diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis: BD veritor ™ system.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis is very important to prevent complications such as acute rheumatic fever. Throat culture is the gold standard method for the diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis, however, rapid antigen tests (RAT) have been developed for faster diagnosis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the BD Veritor ™ System (USA) rapid antigen assay in detecting Group A Streptococcus (GAS) in throat swab samples. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 12,391 throat swabs, taken with a double swab, were evaluated. The BD Veritor ™ System was used for the detection of GAS antigen. Simultaneous throat cultures were performed. RESULTS: Throat culture yielded positive for 18.5% (2291) while 19.1% (2369) were positive with RAT. The sensitivity of BD Veritor ™ System was determined as 94.1% and specificity as 97.9%, while positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were determined as 91.0%, 98.7%, 97%, respectively. When all age groups were included, the rate of GAS positivity was 18.5% and this ratio increased to 27.3% in the five-15 age group. CONCLUSION: Our study, conducted with quite a large number of patients, yielded high sensitivity for the BD Veritor System. When the RAT is negative, the necessity of culture for pediatric patients should not be forgotten.

Gastrointestinal and cutaneous anthrax: Case series.

INTRODUCTION: Anthrax is a zoonosis affecting herbivorous animals. Its agent is Bacillus anthracis and it is gram positive, aerobic or facultative anaerobic, immobile and has a capsule in the polypeptide structure. The incidence is gradually decreasing in the world and in our country. The disease is especially seen in areas where stock breeding is common. In this case series, 3 cases, one of them was mortal, took place after anthrax infected cow was eaten in February 2018 in Trabzon was shared. CASE PRESENTATIONS: In the first case, as a result of the animal's meat was eaten, gastrointestinal anthrax and associated sepsis were seen. This patient's blood culture was positive and she was died. Second case after contacting the patient who died, and third case after contacting the animal and eating its meat, diagnosed with cutaneous anthrax. Doxycycline treatment was started with cutaneous anthrax patients, these cases were recovered without any complications. CONCLUSION: We presented this article, to update our information about gastrointestinal anthrax and other anthrax types which are become a current issue again especially due to bioterrorism and also to keep it in mind in the differential diagnosis although it is rarely seen in our stock raising areas.

Successful resuscitation of prolonged cardiac arrest occurring in association with 'skunk' and toluene toxicity.

We report a case of prolonged and successful resuscitation following cardiotoxicity-related arrest occurring after inhaling toluene and Skunk, which is an increasingly popular synthetic cannabinoid (SC). Following presentation to the emergency department because of lethargy, nausea and chest pain, a 28-year-old male user of Skunk and toluene suffered from cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation (VF). Cardiogenic shock, severe metabolic acidosis and regular wide QRS tachycardia were observed in the patient, and he developed VF every 5-10 minutes over the course of 10 hours. The patient responded to prolonged resuscitation and was discharged on 8th day of his admission in a healthy condition. This case report is the first report that cardiac arrest occurring as a result of Skunk and toluene inhalation, which was resolved without sequelae after prolonged resuscitation.