Question

A patient comes to the clinic today with complaints of sever sore throat for the past 3 days. Her vital signs are as follows: BP 134/88, HR 102, Temp: 101.3, RR: 16. Her allergies include penicillin, cats, and shrimp. A rapid antigen detection test indicates positive for pharyngitis. Which of the following is the first line treatment option?

a. Penicillin V 500 BID for 10 days.
b. Amoxicillin 500 mg BID for 10 days
c. Azithromycin (Z-Pak) for 5 days
d. Cephalexin (Keflex) PO QID

Answer 1

The first-line treatment option for a patient with pharyngitis, allergic to penicillin, is Azithromycin (Z-Pak) for 5 days.

Step-by-step explanation:

The first-line treatment for a patient with a positive rapid antigen detection test for pharyngitis, who is allergic to penicillin, would be Azithromycin (Z-Pak) for 5 days as option (c) suggests. Penicillin V and Amoxicillin should be avoided due to the patient's penicillin allergy. Though Cephalexin is another alternative for those allergic to penicillin, Azithromycin is preferred as it has a shorter course and is generally well tolerated. Additionally, Azithromycin is effective against Streptococcus pyogenes, the common causative agent for pharyngitis. Treatment should be taken as prescribed to avoid any risk of developing antibiotic-resistant bacteria.