Pharyngitis
Clinical Pathways promote evidence-based, safe, and high-value patient care by providing clinical recommendations and standard processes. They are developed by multidisciplinary committees of subject matter experts, informed by a methodical review of available evidence and consensus among committee members.
Clinical Pathway:
- Pharyngitis Algorithm
- Pharyngitis synopsis (provides care standards employed for this clinical pathway)
Additional tools associated with this Clinical Pathway:
- Testing and Care for Patient with Strep Throat
- Testing and Care for Patient with Strep Throat (Spanish)
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion:
- Patients ≥ 3 years of age with complaint of a sore throat
- Suspected pharyngitis caused by GAS (Streptococcus pyogenes)
Exclusion:
- Peritonsillar abscess
- Lymphadenitis
- Viral stomatitis
- Retropharyngeal abscess
- Ludwig's angina
Committee members involved in the development:
- Rana El Feghaly, MD, MSCI | Infectious Diseases | Committee Co-Chair
- Kedar Tilak, MBBS, MD | Fellow - Infectious Diseases/Neonatal-Pernatal Medicine | Committee Co-Chair
- Allison Burris, MD | Urgent Care Clinic | Committee Member
- Jessica Costalez, MD | Emergency Medicine | Committee Member
- Juhi Kangas, MD | Pediatric Care Clinic | Committee Member
- Christine Scoby, DO | Hospital Medicine | Committee Member
- Alaina Burns, PharmD, BCPPS | Infectious Diseases | Committee Member
Patient/Family Committee Member:
- Julie M. Smith, BA | Patient and Family Engagement | Committee Member
EBP Committee Members:
- Kathleen Berg, MD, FAAP | Hospitalist, Evidence Based Practice
- Andrea Melanson, OTD, OTR/L | Evidence Based Practice
- Kori Hess, PharmD | Evidence Based Practice
Publication dates:
- Finalized date: April 2018; April 2022; February 2024
- Next expected revision date: February 2027
If you have any questions regarding this content or identify a broken link, please email evidencebasedpractice@cmh.edu.
These pathways do not establish a standard of care to be followed in every case. It is recognized that each case is different, and those individuals involved in providing health care are expected to use their judgment in determining what is in the best interests of the patient based on the circumstances existing at the time. It is impossible to anticipate all possible situations that may exist and to prepare a pathway for each. Accordingly, these pathways should guide care with the understanding that departures from them may be required at times.