Guidelines
Guidelines Summary
The Infectious Disease Society of America's key recommendations for diagnosis and treatment are outlined below. [2]
Diagnosis
Diagnostic guidelines are as follows:
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Rapid antigen detection test (RADT) and/or culture should be performed to distinguish between GAS and viral pharyngitis, except when overt viral features such as rhinorrhea, cough, oral ulcers, and/or hoarseness are present.
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In children and adolescents, negative RADT results should be confirmed with a throat culture.
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Because of the low incidence of GAS pharyngitis in adults and the exceptionally low risk of subsequent acute rheumatic fever, throat culture after a negative RADT result is unnecessary.
Treatment
Treatment guidelines are as follows:
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Penicillin or amoxicillin is the recommended drug of choice.
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For penicillin-allergic patients, first-generation cephalosporin (for those not anaphylactically sensitive), clindamycin, clarithromycin, or azithromycin
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As an adjunct to antibiotic therapy, acetaminophen or an NSAID should be considered for treatment of moderate to severe symptoms or control of high fever
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Aspirin should be avoided in children
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Corticosteroids are not recommended as adjunctive therapy
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Tonsillectomy solely to reduce the frequency of GAS pharyngitis is not recommended
Media Gallery
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Invasive soft tissue infection due to Streptococcus pyogenes. This child developed fever and soft-tissue swelling on the fifth day of a varicella-zoster infection. Leading edge aspirate of cellulitis grew S pyogenes. Although the patient responded to intravenous penicillin and clindamycin, operative débridement was necessary because of clinical suspicion of early necrotizing fasciitis.
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Streptococcus group A infections. Beta hemolysis is demonstrated on blood agar media.
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Streptococcus group A infections. M protein.
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Streptococcus group A infections. Erysipelas is a group A streptococcal infection of skin and subcutaneous tissue.
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Streptococcus group A infections. White strawberry tongue observed in streptococcal pharyngitis. Image courtesy of J. Bashera.
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Streptococcus group A infections. Streptococcal rash. Image courtesy of J. Bashera.
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Group A Streptococcus on Gram stain of blood isolated from a patient who developed toxic shock syndrome.
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Streptococcus group A infections. Necrotizing fasciitis of the left hand in a patient who had severe pain in the affected area.
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Streptococcus group A infections. Patient who had had necrotizing fasciitis of the left hand and severe pain in the affected area (from Image 8). This photo was taken at a later date, and the wound is healing. The patient required skin grafting.
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Streptococcus group A infections. Gangrenous streptococcal cellulitis in a patient with diabetes.
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Erythema secondary to group A streptococcal cellulitis.
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Invasive soft tissue infection due to Streptococcus pyogenes. This child developed fever and soft-tissue swelling on the fifth day of a varicella-zoster infection. Leading edge aspirate of cellulitis grew S pyogenes. Although the patient responded to intravenous penicillin and clindamycin, operative débridement was necessary because of clinical suspicion of early necrotizing fasciitis.
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Streptococcus group A infections. Necrotizing fasciitis rapidly progresses from erythema to bullae formation and necrosis of skin and subcutaneous tissue.
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Throat swab. Video courtesy of Therese Canares, MD; Marleny Franco, MD; and Jonathan Valente, MD (Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University).
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