In majority of the cases the causative organism for sore throat is?

BHU NO - 2015

Microbiology

Easy

Appeared in: BHU NO - 2015

Explanation

While the majority of all sore throats are caused by viruses, the most common bacterial cause is Streptococcus, specifically Group A β-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS), or Streptococcus pyogenes.
This bacterium is responsible for 'strep throat,' which accounts for 15-30% of pharyngitis cases in school-age children.
The other bacteria listed are much rarer causes of pharyngitis.
Prompt diagnosis and antibiotic treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis are crucial to prevent serious post-infection complications like acute rheumatic fever and post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.

Option A: Gonococci (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) are a rare cause of pharyngitis.
Option B: Staphylococci, such as Staphylococcus aureus, are not considered a primary or common cause of acute pharyngitis.
Option C: Meningococci (Neisseria meningitidis) are a very rare cause of pharyngitis.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Etiology of Pharyngitis (Sore Throat) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a key role in identifying potential cases of strep throat by assessing for key symptoms (fever, exudate, tender lymph nodes, absence of cough) and facilitating diagnostic tests like a rapid antigen detection test (RADT) or throat culture.
Patient education is a critical nursing intervention. For a confirmed case of strep throat, the nurse must emphasize the importance of completing the full course of prescribed antibiotics to prevent complications such as acute rheumatic fever, which can cause permanent heart valve damage.
What if? If a child with a sore throat and fever also develops a fine, red, sandpaper-like rash, the diagnosis is likely scarlet fever (a streptococcal illness). This finding increases the urgency for antibiotic treatment and close monitoring.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the question to understand what it's asking. The question wants to identify the most common causative organism for sore throat from the given list.
Recognize that all the options provided are bacteria. Therefore, the question is asking for the most frequent bacterial cause of pharyngitis.
Recall common infectious diseases and their causes. 'Strep throat' is a widely known condition caused by Streptococcus bacteria.
Evaluate the other options in the context of pharyngitis. Gonococci and Meningococci are associated with more specific and less common conditions (sexually transmitted infection and meningitis, respectively). Staphylococci are common bacteria but are not the leading cause of sore throats.
Based on this knowledge, conclude that Streptococci are the most common bacterial cause of sore throat among the choices.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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