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Pharyngitis — Inpatient Management — Clinical Pathway: Emergency Department and Inpatient

Suspected Pharyngitis or Peritonsillar Abscess (PTA) Clinical Pathway — Emergency Department and Inpatient

Inpatient Management

Inpatient with suspected or confirmed PTA
Good clinical response
No improvement after 24-48 hrs
  • Continued fevers/no improvement in fever curve
  • Persistent or new trismus
  • No improvement in drooling or ability to PO
  • Consult ENT
  • Consider dexamethasone 0.6 mg/kg/dose once, max 8 mg
  • CT neck w/IV contrast, initial or repeat
  • If CT requires general anesthesia
    • ENT, Radiology, Anesthesia discuss completing as single procedure
  • OR as indicated
Good clinical response
Discharge
  • Transition to oral antibiotics to complete treatment duration
  • If symptoms are not resolved, PCP follow-up
  • Antibiotic Recommendations

 

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