Important

Antibiotics are sometimes hailed as the solution for a sore throat but given that the vast majority of cases are caused by viral infections, they will frequently be ineffective. They do, however, have a place in the management of individuals who are at increased risk of developing a severe infection, such as those on immunosuppressant medication, or people who suffer recurrent infections that are believed to be cause by Streptococcus bacteria.

In some situations, a “delayed prescription” may be provided, whereby an individual is advised to wait a few days and only get the antibiotics dispensed if their symptoms worsen or do not improve. This approach has been shown to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use – and therefore help prevent resistance – while providing similar benefits to an immediate supply of the drug.