Title: Grouping of Clinical Isolates of Streptococci by Latex Agglutination in A Tertiary Care Centre
Authors: Dr Lancy J, Dr Anupama, Dr Thara Ann Jose, Dr Lakshmi Balaraman
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i5.224
Abstract
Latex agglutination technique in an important procedure in clinical laboratories. It is a more rapid and technically less demanding than traditional extraction precipitation methods for the rapid and accurate identification of the Lancefied group of beta haemolytic streptococci. It can be used to detect Group D antigen is streptococci and enterococci as well as group A, B, C, F and G antigens. It is a reliable method for grouping of the beta-haemolytic streptococci and enterococci whenever they are isolated from clinical specimens in culture on steep blood agar in clinical laboratories. A total number of 33 isolates obtained from various clinical specimens received in the 24 hours clinical microbiology laboratory at Govt. Medical College, Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram during a period of 6 months from July 2016 to December 2016 were subjected to Lancefield Grouping by Latex Agglutination test. Majority of the isolates were Group A streptococci 14 (42%) followed by Group B streptococci 6 (18%), Group D streptococci and group F streptococci (6%) and 7 isolates(21%) were non-groupable.
Lancefield grouping of the beta – haemolytc streptococci by latex Agglutination immediately after their isolation in culture helps the clinician to start treatment at the earliest with appropriate antibiotic without any delay thus providing better patient care in invasive and noninvasive streptococcal infections and to prevent complication.
Keywords: Beta – haemolytic streptococci, streptococcus pyogeneslatex agglutination, Lancefied grouping
