Medical Microbiology

Table 1 2. 1 Continued:UpperRespiratoryTract

Infection Mostimportant

pathogens*

Laboratorydiagnosis

Infectiousmononucleosis Epstein-Barrvirus(EBV) Serology

Cytomegalovirus(CMV) Culturefrompharyngeal

lavageandurine;serology

Bacteria Streptococcuspyogenes,

rarely:streptococciof

groupsB,C,orG

Culturefromswab;

rapidantigendetection

testforA-streptocciin

swabmaterialifrequired

Plaut-Vincentangina Treponemavincentii+

mixedanaerobicflora

Microscopyfromswab

Acutenecroticulcerous

gingivostomatitis

Treponemavincentii+

mixedanaerobicflora

Microscopyfromswab

Diphtheria CorynebacteriumdiphtheriaeCulturefromswab

Laryngotracheobronchitis

(croup)

Parainfluenzaviruses

Influenzaviruses

Respiratorysyncytialvirus

Adenoviruses

Enteroviruses

Isolationfrompharyngeal

lavageorbronchial

secretion,combinedwith

serology

Rhinoviruses Laboratorydiagnosisnot

recommended

Epiglottitis Haemophilusinfluenzae

(usuallyserovar“b”)

Morerarely:

Streptococcuspneumoniae,

Staphylococcusaureus,

Streptococcuspyogenes

Bloodculture.Culturefrom

swab(caution:respiratory

arrestpossibleintaking

theswab)

*Thepathogensthatoccurmostfrequentlyareinboldtype.

UpperRespiratoryTract 631

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Kayser, Medical Microbiology © 2005 Thieme