Question 1

what are the differences between group a & group b strep throat?

Accepted Answer

Treat group A: Group a strep should be treated with antibiotics to prevent potential complications.  No treatment is required for group b strep.

Question 2

is it still possible to have strep throat even if throat culture is negative?

Accepted Answer

Probably viral: A throat culture is considered the "gold standard" when it comes to diagnosing strep throat. It is very accurate and specific to strep throat. It is more likely that you have a viral throat infection. It should last around 5-7 days. Ibuprofen, salt water gargles and rest should help.

Question 3

took a throat culture today and said i either have strep throat or mono. how will i know which one i have?

Accepted Answer

One or Other or Both: You can't have either a strep throat or mononucleosis.  You can have one or the other or both.  A rapid strep test or a throat culture will tell whether or not you have a strep throat.  A mono spot test or ebv antibody panel will show whether or not you have mono.  If you have both do not take Ampicillin or Amoxicillin because either will cause a rash 90% of the time.

Question 4

where could my 16 yr old daughter have gotten the pseudonomas bacteria? a strep throat culture came back positive for it.

Accepted Answer

They're everywhere: And they are probably not causing her sore throat. Many folks harbor the little critters without their causing any problems. Like most other bacteria, it's only when they grow out of control or manage to invade that you'll get disease.

Question 5

after having a sore throat for over a week, is it too late to have a throat culture done for strep throat? my two grandsons have strep throat?

Accepted Answer

Sore : Sore throat is a fairly common symptom associated with many illnesses. Most of the time it resolves on its own without any other issues. Occasionally it can be due to something more serious that needs treatment. Reasons to seek care are: 
- any fever - since it could be strep and you can't tell without an exam/testing 
- if it lasts longer than 3 or 4 days 
- any difficulty opening your mouth 
- unable to swallow 
- severe pain 
- bleeding in the throat 
- redness or swelling on the outside of the neck 
- any difficulty breathing or noisy breathing

since their sore throats have been going on for a week, they should see their doctor.  As long as they still have symptoms, it is not too late for a throat culture.
In the meantime, taking Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen for pain, drinking plenty of fluids such as hot tea/broth or cold liquids and a spoonful of honey can help.

Question 6

i saw a doctor yesterday and was diagnosed with pharyngitis. still waiting for strep throat culture to come back. pain is worst. can hardly swallow.?

Accepted Answer

Can be other things.: Strep is not the only cause of pharyngitis.  Herpes simplex, chlamydia, ebv, corynebacterium diptheriae, and many others can also cause it.  That is one reason why the strep check swab is done, as well as a strep culture.  Your doctor should be able to do this/should have done this rapid check so you can start treatment if positive.  See your doctor soon if it gets worse for empiric treatment.

Question 7

my throat was swollen.doc did a throat culture and it is strep throat c.left toncel still soreaalong with left side of my tounge and left ear. normal?

Accepted Answer

Referred pain: If you are just diagnosed the past two days and just started antibiotics, the pain might be less but still present, if you didn't have ear infection during your doctor's visit, the ear pain is most possible referred pain from the throat. Take some analgesics and see if it healps.

Question 8

what do you suggest if i'm diagnosed with group b strep in the throat. is this even possible?

Accepted Answer

Strep B: It depends upon the discretion of your doctor. If you are symptomatic your doctor may be inclined to treat you.

Question 9

does taking treatment for throat infection put my baby more at risk for my group b strep? i'm a carrier. abx don't cover gbs can they make it stronger

Accepted Answer

Antibiotics: Hi
So the usual recommendation is that you get tested for Group B strep between 35-37 weeks of your pregnancy. If you test positive, they will give you IV antibiotics that cover GBS during labor because the GBS transmission to the baby occurs during childbirth. Generally speaking, if an antibiotic doesn't cover GBS, it won't stimulate it to become "stronger".

Question 10

my lab results on a strep culture group a came back saying: no beta strep group a isolated by bacitracin. what does that mean? do i have strep throat?

Accepted Answer

No means no: The culture procedure takes a sample of your mucus and spreads it over sheep's blood agar, the food for germ growth. A paper disk infused with bacitracin (antibiotic) is placed on the SBA where a small amount of the abx infuses around the disk. The action of growing germs on the sheep's blood and the prevention of growth near the antibiotic disc define the germs type. Yours was not Strep A.

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Doctor answers about:

Group b strep in throat culture

A member asked:

What are the differences between group a & group b strep throat?

A member asked:

Is it still possible to have strep throat even if throat culture is negative?

A member asked:

Took a throat culture today and said i either have strep throat or mono. how will i know which one i have?

A member asked:

Where could my 16 yr old daughter have gotten the pseudonomas bacteria? a strep throat culture came back positive for it.

A member asked:

After having a sore throat for over a week, is it too late to have a throat culture done for strep throat? my two grandsons have strep throat?

A member asked:

I saw a doctor yesterday and was diagnosed with pharyngitis. still waiting for strep throat culture to come back. pain is worst. can hardly swallow.?

A member asked:

My throat was swollen.doc did a throat culture and it is strep throat c.left toncel still soreaalong with left side of my tounge and left ear. normal?

A member asked:

What do you suggest if i'm diagnosed with group b strep in the throat. is this even possible?

A member asked:

Does taking treatment for throat infection put my baby more at risk for my group b strep? i'm a carrier. abx don't cover gbs can they make it stronger

A member asked:

My lab results on a strep culture group a came back saying: no beta strep group a isolated by bacitracin. what does that mean? do i have strep throat?

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