CKS NICEFeverPAIN
Avoid antibiotics as 90% resolve in 7 days without, and pain only reduced by 16 hours.
Use FeverPAIN Score: Fever in last 24h, Purulence, Attend rapidly <3 days, severely Inflamed tonsils, No cough or coryza. Score
0-1: NO antibiotic,
2-3: No or back-up antibiotic prescription,
≥4: Immediate antibiotic if severe, or 48hr back-up prescription.
Systemically very unwell or high risk of complications: Immediate antibiotic
Always share self-care advice & safety net. Non-Prescription Pad and Patient Information Leaflet
You need to treat 200 patients to prevent one case of otitis media
and >4000 patients to prevent one quinsy.
Phenoxymethylpenicillin
500mg 4 x daily OR
1g 2 x daily
5 days OR
if recurrent or high suspicion/confirmation of streptococcal throat infection:
10 days
Penicillin Allergy:
Clarithromycin
500mg 2 x daily
5 days
Last reviewed: 20 February 2023
Author(s): Fiona McDonald, Antimicrobial Pharmacist
Version: 1.3
Approved By: Antimicrobial Management Team
Reviewer Name(s): Fiona McDonald
Avoid antibiotics as 90% resolve in 7 days without, and pain only reduced by 16 hours.
Use FeverPAIN Score: Fever in last 24h, Purulence, Attend rapidly <3 days, severely Inflamed tonsils, No cough or coryza.
Score
0-1: NO antibiotic,
2-3: No or back-up antibiotic prescription,
≥4: Immediate antibiotic if severe, or 48hr back-up prescription.
Systemically very unwell or high risk of complications: Immediate antibiotic
Always share self-care advice & safety net. Non-Prescription Pad and Patient Information Leaflet
You need to treat 200 patients to prevent one case of otitis media
and >4000 patients to prevent one quinsy.