An individual presents with a pinkish-red rash and a red sore throat. Gram-positive cocci are cultured from a throat swab and demonstrate beta hemolysis on the blood agar plate. The cocci are growing in chains. Which of the following is the most likely conclusion?

The patient has scarlet fever

Explanation:

The fever is caused a bacteria known as Streptococcus pyogenes which is a Gram-positive, cocci shape (in chains) bacteria with characteristic beta hemolysis on blood agar.

Scarlet fever is diagnosed by using either of these two methods;

Rapid antigen detection test Throat culture

The symptoms of the disease include sore throat, headaches, swollen lymph nodes and characteristic reddish rash.

All the symptoms stated together with the diagnostic process are compatible with scarlet fever.