Use of antibiotics in the management of sore throat

Abstract

As the number of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria rises, it becomes crucial that decisions about the use of antibiotics are based on sound evidence. This article offers a case study to explore the treatment of patients with sore throat who present to minor injury settings. It describes some 'red flag' presentations, discusses the pros and cons of prescribing antibiotics for sore throat, and describes some scoring systems that can help differentiate between bacterial and viral throat infections.

Keywords: Sore throat; antibacterial agents; antibiotic resistance; antibiotic use; bacteria; scoring system.