Summary

While pharyngitis is a common primary care complaint, evidence reveals that this diagnosis is an area where antibiotic therapy is frequently misused. Appropriate diagnosis and management of pharyngitis is crucial to ensure antimicrobial stewardship and improve patient safety and outcomes. Pharyngitis etiologies include both infectious and non-infectious sources such as bacteria, viruses, fungal organisms, trauma, irritants, laryngopharyngeal reflux, and medications.

Clinicians need to obtain a thorough history and careful physical examination, along with appropriate diagnostic testing when indicated, to ensure treatment plans are targeted towards the most likely pharyngitis etiology. 

Learning Objectives

• Define the etiologies of pharyngitis include viral, bacterial, fungal organisms, trauma, medication side effects, allergens, and irritants.
• Analyze the serious and life-threatening complications that can develop when bacterial (especially GAS) pharyngitis infections are not appropriately and promptly treated.
• Discuss the history-taking and skilled physical examination along with the utilization of clinical decision tools such as Centor criteria, McIsaac, and Fever-PAIN coupled with appropriate testing that can help clinicians ascertain the appropriate treatment and avoid prescribing unnecessary antibiotics which can lead to adverse events and antibiotic resistance.

About Presenter

Allison Holley, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine
Florida Atlantic University
Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine
Boca Raton, Florida, USA

Laboratory Supervisors, Laboratory Directors (and/or Assistant Directors), Laboratory Managers (Supervisory and/or Non-Supervisory), Medical Technologists, Point-of-Care Coordinators