Throat Culture Health Article

Abnormal results

In addition to S. pyogenes, other disease agents may be identified in the throat culture. Infectious agents that can be identified include Candida albicans, which can cause thrush; Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which can cause diphtheria; and Bordetella pertussis, which can cause whooping cough. In addition, the appearance of a normal organism in very high numbers may also be regarded as an abnormal result.

BOOKS

"Throat Culture." In Illustrated Guide to Diagnostic Tests,ed. J. A. Lewis. Springhouse, PA: Springhouse Corp. 1994.

PERIODICALS

Perkins, A. "An Approach to Diagnosing the Acute Sore Throat." American Family Physician 55 (Jan. 1997): 131-137.

ORGANIZATIONS

American Medical Association. 515 N. State St., Chicago, IL 60612. (312) 464-5000. <http://www.ama-assn.org>.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1600 Clifton Rd., NE, Atlanta, GA 30333. (800) 311-3435, (404) 639-3311. <http://www.cdc.gov>.

Cindy L. A. Jones, PhD

KEY TERMS

Agar—A gel made from red algae that is used to culture certain disease agents in the laboratory.

Antibiotic—A drug given to stop the growth of bacteria. Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses.

Antigen—A substance that interacts with an antibody and causes an immune reaction.

Carrier—A person harboring an infectious disease who may be immune to it but who can give it to others.

Diphtheria—A serious disease caused by a bacterium, Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

Hemolytic—Able to dissolve red blood cells. The bacteria that cause strep throat are hemolytic organisms.

Streptococcus—A category (genus) of sphereshaped bacteria that occur in pairs or chains.

Thrush—A disease occurring in the mouth or throat that is caused by a yeast, Candida albicans.

Whooping cough—An infectious disease of the respiratory tract caused by a bacterium, Bordetella pertussis.