Community pharmacist-physician collaborative streptococcal pharyngitis management program

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Group A Streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis is a common infection requiring timely diagnosis and treatment.
• Community pharmacies present an accessible setting for managing common infections.
• Collaborative practice agreements (CPAs) between physicians and pharmacists can expand healthcare services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate patient outcomes in a community pharmacy-based, collaborative physician-pharmacist program for Group A Streptococcus (GAS) management.
• To assess the feasibility and impact of pharmacist-led screening and treatment of GAS pharyngitis.

Main Methods:

• Pharmacists screened patients presenting with GAS pharyngitis symptoms using Centor criteria and rapid antigen detection tests (RADTs).
• Eligible patients were treated per a collaborative practice agreement (CPA) or physician consult.
• Pharmacists conducted follow-up to monitor patient status and need for further intervention.

Main Results:

• Out of 316 screened patients, 273 were eligible for testing, with 48 (17.6%) testing positive for GAS.
• 46 patients received antibiotic treatment (amoxicillin or azithromycin) under the CPA.
• A significant proportion of patients (43.2%) lacked a primary care provider and 43.9% visited the pharmacy outside regular clinic hours.

Conclusions:

• Community pharmacists are capable of managing GAS pharyngitis, demonstrating effective patient care.
• The program highlights improved healthcare access, particularly for underserved populations and outside standard clinic hours.
• Pharmacy-based collaborative care models can effectively address public health needs for common infections.