In primary health care, never prescribe antibiotics to patients suspected of having an uncomplicated sore throat caused by group A beta-haemolytic streptococci without first confirming the presence of this bacterium.

Background: There are several consensus-describing decision rules for patients in primary health care with a sore throat. The objective of this study was to estimate the number of unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions in primary health care given to patients with a sore throat, due to these different decision rules. A further aim was to suggest revised rules for decision-making in primary health care, when a sore throat caused by group A beta-haemolytic streptococci (GAS) is suspected.