Appropriate Antibiotic Use for Acute Pharyngitis
Authors: Sjoerd Zwart, Alfred Sachs
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2002)

Letters16 April 2002Appropriate Antibiotic Use for Acute PharyngitisSjoerd Zwart, MD, PhD and Alfred Sachs, MD, PhDSjoerd Zwart, MD, PhDJulius Center, University Medical Center; Utrecht 3508 GA, the Netherlands (Zwart, Sachs)Search for more papers by this author and Alfred Sachs, MD, PhDJulius Center, University Medical Center; Utrecht 3508 GA, the Netherlands (Zwart, Sachs)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-136-8-200204160-00018 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:We congratulate the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Physicians–American Society of Internal Medicine for their clear position paper on antibiotic use for acute pharyngitis in adults (1). These honorable organizations found a good balance between the risks for untreated group A β-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis and the risks posed by unnecessary use of antibiotics (side effects, microbial resistance, medicalization).To our surprise, one recommended treatment strategy appeared to be almost identical to the guidelines in the Netherlands: to refrain from any microbiological test and to limit ...References1. Cooper RJ, Hoffman JR, Bartlett JG, Besser RE, Gonzales R, Hickner JM, et al . Principles of appropriate antibiotic use for acute pharyngitis in adults: background. Ann Intern Med. 2001;134:509-17. [PMID: 11255530] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Zwart S, Sachs AP, Ruijs GJ, Gubbels JW, Hoes AW, de Melker RA. Penicillin for acute sore throat: randomised double blind trial of seven days versus three days treatment or placebo in adults. BMJ. 2000;320:150-4. [PMID: 10634735] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Zwart S, Ruijs GJ, Sachs AP, van Leeuwen WJ, Gubbels JW, de Melker RA. Beta-haemolytic streptococci isolated from acute sore-throat patients: cause or coincidence? A case–control study in general practice. Scand J Infect Dis. 2000;32:377-84. [PMID: 10959645] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Zwart S, Ruijs GJ, Sachs AP, Schellekens JF, de Melker RA. Potentially virulent strains and high colony counts of group A β-haemolytic streptococci in pharyngitis patients having a delayed recovery or a complication. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2001;47:689-91. [PMID: 11328786] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Sjoerd Zwart, MD, PhD; Alfred Sachs, MD, PhDAffiliations: Julius Center, University Medical Center; Utrecht 3508 GA, the Netherlands (Zwart, Sachs) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoPrinciples of Appropriate Antibiotic Use for Acute Pharyngitis in Adults: Background Richelle J. Cooper , Jerome R. Hoffman , John G. Bartlett , Richard E. Besser , Ralph Gonzales , John M. Hickner , and Merle A. Sande Appropriate Antibiotic Use for Acute Pharyngitis Jerome R. Hoffman , Richelle J. Cooper , and Richard E. Besser Metrics 16 April 2002Volume 136, Issue 8Page: 632-633KeywordsAntibiotic resistanceAntibioticsAntimicrobialsGroup A streptococciPenicillinPharyngitisPrimary care physiciansRheumatic feverStreptococcal pharyngitisTreatment guidelines ePublished: 16 April 2002 Issue Published: 16 April 2002 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2002 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...