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Acute sore throat antibiotic stewardship — GPhC CRA MCQ

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ModerateInfectionsAcute sore throat antibiotic stewardshipGPhC CRA

A 19-year-old student asks for antibiotics for sore throat of 2 days. He has cough, runny nose, temperature 37.4°C and no tonsillar exudate. He is drinking normally and has no immunosuppression or breathing difficulty. What is the most appropriate alternative?

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Correct answer: D — Advise self-care and safety-netting rather than antibiotic referral

The symptoms are more consistent with viral upper respiratory tract infection than bacterial tonsillitis. Self-care, analgesia advice and safety-netting are appropriate when red flags are absent. Antibiotics offer limited benefit in low-risk sore throat and contribute to resistance. Returned medicines must not be supplied to another patient.

Reference: NICE CKS Sore throat; NICE antimicrobial prescribing guidance