Streptococcal Pharyngitis: Optimal Management (Issues in Infectious Diseases)

Group A streptococcal pharyngitis is one of the most common, but also controversial infections clinicians are faced with every day. Clinical diagnosis is often not specific; laboratory data can be misleading and are frequently misinterpreted. Despite the in vitro effectiveness of penicillin, it does not always eradicate the organism from the upper respiratory tract. Numerous newly introduced antibiotics are expensive or not even available in many countries. In this book, internationally acknowledged experts deal in detail with the complexity of streptococcal pharyngitis and the remaining controversies. It offers an overview of the virulence factors of Streptococcus pyogenes, the pathogenesis of pediatric and adult streptococcal pharyngitis, and the epidemiology of streptococcal pharyngitis in high and low income countries.