Overprescribing and inappropriate antibiotic selection for children with pharyngitis in the United States, 1997-2010.

Overprescribing and Inappropriate Antibiotic Selection for ChildrenWith Pharyngitis in the United States, 1997-2010 Pharyngitis is a commonreason forpediatrichealthcarevisits.1 While viral infections account for themajority of pharyngitis episodes, groupAStreptococcus (GAS) is implicated inapproximately 37%of episodes among children.1 Antimicrobial treatment ofGASpharyngitis can shorten illness duration, prevent complications,andminimizetransmissiontoothers.2Evidencebased guidelines for GAS pharyngitis recommend narrowspectrum penicillins (amoxicillin or penicillin) as first-line therapy; they are effective and GAS is universally susceptible to these agents.2 In a recent study in adultswith sore throat,most patients received broader-spectrum antibiotics, commonly macrolides, instead of first-line therapy.3 We characterized the frequencyandappropriatenessof antibiotic prescribing forpharyngitis in children.