Chaula, Pendo John2024-03-272024-03-272023Chaula, P. J. (2023). Prevalence and predictors of group a streptococcal pharyngitis and antibiotic susceptibility among children aged 2-15 years at two tertiary hospitals in Dodoma, Tanzania: Dodoma. The University of Dodoma.https://repository.udom.ac.tz/handle/20.500.12661/4415Dissertation. MSc. Medicine.Background: Group A streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis is prevalent among children aged 5 to 15 years and if left untreated it may result in deleterious long-term complications. Several studies concentrated much on diagnostic methods, clinical guidelines and management of GAS in children of five years and above but little is known about its magnitude in children of lower ages despite being common with varying predictors and antibiotic susceptibility. Broad Objective: To determine the prevalence, predictors, and antibiotic susceptibility of GAS pharyngitis in children 2-15 years attended at tertiary hospitals in Dodoma Tanzania. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study at the University of Dodoma-affiliated teaching hospitals. A total of 153 children with pharyngitis aged 2-15 years were enrolled in the study. Demographic and clinical data were recorded using a standardized semi structured questionnaire from care takers and patients’ medical charts. Pharyngeal swab from tonsils were taken using sterile swab and placed in a firmly tight labelled container, cultured on a sheep blood Agar. Antibiotic susceptibility of the bacterial isolates was tested using the disc diffusion method according to the Clinical laboratory institute guidelines. Tested antibiotic discs included Amoxicillin, Phenoxy methyl penicillin, Azithromycin, Erythromycin, Gentamicin, Amoxicillin clavulanic acid, Ceftriaxone, Ceftazidime, Meropenem, Ciprofloxacin and Amikacin. Additional tests performed included ASOT and CRP. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 and a p value< 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results: Out of 153 participants 87(56.86%) were females and the mean age of all participants was 5.59 ± 2.85. The prevalence of Group A streptococcal among children with Pharyngitis was 38.56%. Factors significantly associated with Group A streptococcal pharyngitis were age of the child 5-9 years (AOR =1.832, 95% CI [1.21, 3.274], p=0.0372 and school status whereby those who are in kindergarten school had (AOR=10.78, 95% CI [1.60, 72.64], p=0.0145. The isolates were sensitive to Amoxycillin clavulanic acid (84.75%), Ceftriaxone (93.22%), Ciprofloxacin (96.61%) and Meropenem (96.61)enGroup A streptococcusGASantibiotic susceptibilityPharyngitisAcute Rheumatic FeverB enjamin Mkapa HospitalD od oma Regional Referral HospitalOutpatient clinicThesis