title: [Acute tonsillitis: clinical symptoms; bacteriologic culture and rapid test as deciding criteria for the use of antibiotics].
abstract: In order to prevent late sequelae from an untreated streptococcal pharyngitis all patients with streptococcal tonsillitis/pharyngitis have to be treated with antibiotics, preferably penicillin. A correct diagnosis by clinical criteria is only achievable in 72% of patients with streptococcal pharyngitis. Additional criteria such as diagnosis by culture are, therefore, mandatory. Time is a major disadvantage of traditional culture methods. Slide agglutination tests show an acceptable sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 93%. Due to the possibility of false negative test results, with consequent withholding of adequate antimicrobial chemotherapy, these test results should be used only as a valuable guide. Decision to administer an antibiotic should still be based on clinical criteria.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Sozialmedizin, Universität Innsbruck.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Raich
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Allerberger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sandholzer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kofler
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pittl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Puri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schwaighofer
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Guggenbichler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000372:Agglutination Tests; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D010406:Penicillins
vernacular_title: Akute Tonsillitis: Klinische Symptomatik; bakteriologische Kultur und Schnelltest als Entscheidungskriterien für Antibiotikaeinsatz.