[Use of rapid diagnostic tests of tonsillitis in medical practice. Survey conducted from November 2006 to January 2007 in Pays de la Loire (France)].
BACKGROUND
The use of the rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and the strategy of management of pharyngitis in medical practice are little known.


METHODS
During the 2006-2007 winter, a survey was conducted in the Pays de la Loire Region to evaluate the use of the RDT. A focus group was also organised.


RESULTS
Data were collected from 525 patients (patients who were consulting for a sore throat, angina or patients for whom a RDT was made). RDT were performed on 245 patients (46%). The sixty positive RDT patients systematically received an antibiotic. Twenty negative RDT patients received an antibiotic. More than 75% of GPs considered the RDT useful or very useful.


CONCLUSIONS
The guidelines for the management of pharyngitis are known but they are partially followed by physicians. Many countries have national guidelines for the management of tonsillitis and they are also not unanimous. When patients had pharyngitis symptoms, the frequency of antibiotic prescription was lower when the RDT was used as recommended by the French Medicines Agency (AFSSAPS). The treatment must be short in order to improve the compliance of outpatients and reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics.


CONCLUSIONS
A decrease in antibiotics prescription was recorded in the community. It was attributed to the availability of the RDT provided by the CNAMTS (French National Health Service). Moreover, the RDT are still free for practitioners and their reimbursement could be extended to hospital.
MedQual, Centre d'information et de ressources pour le bon usage des produits de santé, CHU de Nantes, F-44093 Nantes Cedex 01, France.
Marie
M
Pajot
Nathalie
N
Asseray
Christophe
C
Leux
Rémy
R
Senand
François
F
Garnier
Gilles
G
Potel
Pierre
P
Lombrail
Françoise
F
Ballereau
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005602:France; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial