According to Centor criteria for streptococcal pharyngitis, which score range suggests antibiotic therapy?

• A. 3-4 antibiotics
• B. 0-1 viral
• C. 2 obtain rapid strep
• D. 5-6 antibiotics

Answer: (A)

Higher Centor scores mean a greater chance that pharyngitis is caused by group A Streptococcus, so antibiotics are more strongly considered as the score rises. The Centor criteria count one point for each of fever, tonsillar exudates, tender anterior cervical lymphadenopathy, and absence of cough, giving a total from 0 to 4. A score of three or four indicates a high probability of strep pharyngitis and is the range where antibiotic therapy is generally recommended. A score of two usually leads to rapid strep testing to confirm before starting antibiotics, while 0–1 makes a viral etiology more likely and antibiotics are not indicated. In this question, the range that suggests antibiotic therapy is three to four.