Next Article in Journal
Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI): COVID-19 Vaccine Dose and Characteristics in Central Java, Indonesia
Previous Article in Journal
Coronin-1A Serves as a Serum Biomarker for Supportive Diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
GERMS
Volume 13
Issue 1
10.18683/germs.2023.1364
germs-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Assessment of Adherence to Guidelines for Testing and Treatment of Pharyngitis Among Children in Palestine: A Retrospective Review Study

by
Shahenaz Najjar
1,
Haya O Sultan
2,
Hiba H Falana
3,
Razan O Ata
4,
Maryam A Manasrah
5,
Mutaz Dreidi
6,
Abdallah D. Abukhalil
7 and
Hani Naseef
8,*
1
Dean Faculty of Graduate Studies, Health Informatics Program, Health Sciences Department, Arab American University, Ramallah, P.O Box 240 Jenin, 13 Zababdeh, Palestine
2
Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy, Pillar Quality and Safety, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
3
Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Professions, Birzeit University, P.O. Box 14, Birzeit, West Bank, Palestine
4
Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Professions, Birzeit University, P.O. Box 14, Birzeit, West Bank, Palestine
5
Health Informatics Program, Health Sciences Department, Arab American University, Ramallah, P.O Box 240 Jenin, 13 Zababdeh, Palestine
6
Health Informatics Program, Health Sciences Department, Arab American University, Ramallah, P.O Box 240 Jenin, 13 Zababdeh, Palestine
7
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Professions, Birzeit University, P.O. Box 14, Birzeit, West Bank, Palestine
8
Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Professions, Birzeit University, P.O. Box 14, Birzeit, West Bank, Palestine
9
Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Professions, Birzeit University, P.O. Box 14, Birzeit, West Bank, Palestine
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
GERMS 2023, 13(1), 32-39; https://doi.org/10.18683/germs.2023.1364
Submission received: 30 September 2022 / Revised: 27 February 2023 / Accepted: 1 March 2023 / Published: 31 March 2023
Versions Notes

Abstract

Introduction One of the most common reasons for pediatric outpatient visits is acute pharyngitis, an upper respiratory tract infection. Bacterial pharyngitis is caused by Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS), also known as Streptococcus pyogenes. This research aimed to assess physicians’ adherence to clinical guidelines for diagnosis, management, and selecting appropriate treatment for children suspected of bacterial pharyngitis. Methods A retrospective, observational study was conducted by reviewing patient charts for childred aged 3 to 13 years old diagnosed with pharyngitis from June 2019 until December 2019 at the Emergency Department of Palestine Medical Complex (PMC). The Modified Centor score, throat swab collections, and assessment of antimicrobial selection were used to assess the extent of physicians’ adherence to clinical guidelines for appropriate diagnosis and management of pharyngitis. SPSS was used for data analysis. Results Out of 290 cases diagnosed with acute pharyngitis, 217 patients (74.8%) had a Modified Centor score of ≥2; 126 received antibiotics, and eight had their throat swabbed to confirm the diagnosis; furthermore, 73 patients (25.2%) had a Modified Centor score of 2, older children, and those presenting with fever. Conclusions Most cases were not appropriately tested to confirm the diagnosis of bacterial pharyngitis and were mostly treated with inappropriate antimicrobial agents such as azithromycin. Nonadherence to clinical guidelines is very evident in this study.
Keywords: pharyngitis; antibiotic; bacterial resistance; swab culture; overuse pharyngitis; antibiotic; bacterial resistance; swab culture; overuse

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Najjar, S.; O Sultan, H.; Falana, H.H.; O Ata, R.; A Manasrah, M.; Dreidi, M.; Abukhalil, A.D.; Naseef, H. Assessment of Adherence to Guidelines for Testing and Treatment of Pharyngitis Among Children in Palestine: A Retrospective Review Study. GERMS 2023, 13, 32-39. https://doi.org/10.18683/germs.2023.1364

AMA Style

Najjar S, O Sultan H, Falana HH, O Ata R, A Manasrah M, Dreidi M, Abukhalil AD, Naseef H. Assessment of Adherence to Guidelines for Testing and Treatment of Pharyngitis Among Children in Palestine: A Retrospective Review Study. GERMS. 2023; 13(1):32-39. https://doi.org/10.18683/germs.2023.1364

Chicago/Turabian Style

Najjar, Shahenaz, Haya O Sultan, Hiba H Falana, Razan O Ata, Maryam A Manasrah, Mutaz Dreidi, Abdallah D. Abukhalil, and Hani Naseef. 2023. "Assessment of Adherence to Guidelines for Testing and Treatment of Pharyngitis Among Children in Palestine: A Retrospective Review Study" GERMS 13, no. 1: 32-39. https://doi.org/10.18683/germs.2023.1364

APA Style

Najjar, S., O Sultan, H., Falana, H. H., O Ata, R., A Manasrah, M., Dreidi, M., Abukhalil, A. D., & Naseef, H. (2023). Assessment of Adherence to Guidelines for Testing and Treatment of Pharyngitis Among Children in Palestine: A Retrospective Review Study. GERMS, 13(1), 32-39. https://doi.org/10.18683/germs.2023.1364

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop