Clinical Scorecard: Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns for Pharyngitis in Relation to Health Insurance: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in Saudi Arabia's Primary Care Settings
At a Glance
Category
Detail
Condition
Acute Pharyngitis
Key Mechanisms
Antibiotic resistance driven by inappropriate prescribing practices.
Target Population
Saudi nationals visiting governmental primary healthcare centers.
Care Setting
Primary care settings in Saudi Arabia.
Key Highlights
84.7% of acute pharyngitis visits resulted in antibiotic prescriptions.
Amoxicillin (62%) and azithromycin (37%) were the most prescribed antibiotics.
Children aged 0–7 years had higher odds of receiving antibiotics.
Patients with governmental insurance were 28.6% more likely to receive antibiotics than those with private insurance.
High prevalence of antibiotic use underscores the need for improved antibiotic stewardship.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Utilize the Modified Centor scoring system for assessing Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis.
Management
Prescribe narrower-spectrum antibiotics such as Penicillin V based on patient status.
Monitoring & Follow-up
Monitor antibiotic prescribing patterns to reduce inappropriate use.
Risks
Increased antibiotic resistance due to high rates of inappropriate prescribing.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Saudi nationals with acute pharyngitis in primary care.
High rates of antibiotic prescriptions despite low bacterial cause attribution.
Clinical Best Practices
Strengthen antibiotic stewardship programs.
Enhance adherence to clinical guidelines for pharyngitis management.
