Evaluation and Treatment of Pharyngitis in Primary Care Practice

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Abstract
Every year, patients in the United States make about 11 million visits to ambulatory practices and emergency departments that result in a diagnosis of pharyngitis.1,2 Approximately 10% of adults with pharyngitis will have group A β-hemolytic streptococci (streptococcal pharyngitis), the only common cause of pharyngitis that warrants antibiotic treatment.3,4 However, about 70% of adults with pharyngitis are treated with antibiotics in the United States.5,6 There is agreement that the antibiotic prescribing rate for adults with pharyngitis is too high, but there is open disagreement as to the optimal way to evaluate and treat adults with pharyngitis.7,8