What are the current guidelines for antibiotic treatment in confirmed cases of Group A Streptococcal pharyngitis?

The provided UK guideline excerpts do not contain specific recommendations for antibiotic treatment in confirmed cases of Group A Streptococcal pharyngitis ¹,²,³.

However, general principles for managing acute respiratory infections (ARIs), which include sore throat, are outlined ¹. For individuals with symptoms of an ARI, a clinical assessment should be used to make a diagnosis and decide whether to prescribe antimicrobials, either immediately or as a back-up prescription ¹. Self-care advice should also be offered ¹. When making prescribing decisions, a person's overall health and social circumstances should be considered, with a potentially lower threshold for treatment or referral for those at higher risk of poor outcomes, such as individuals with comorbidities or frailty ¹.

Antimicrobial stewardship guidelines emphasise the importance of local system-wide approaches to reduce inappropriate antimicrobial demand and use ³. Resources should be available for healthcare professionals to inform the public about self-limiting infections, encouraging self-management when safe ³. This includes advice on recognising self-limiting infections, seeking further advice if unsure, managing symptoms at home, and identifying red flag symptoms that warrant medical help ³.