[NP-Clinical] strep

[Stephanie Walker]

If the patient has a sore throat and especially if s/he has a fever, I 
would treat with antibiotics. Strictly speaking, only group A is 
rheumatogenic & needs to be treated, but the community standard of care 
most places is to give them antibiotics so they can feel better sooner. 
I would use a broader spectrum than penicillin-something simple like 
Keflex--since I would have no idea what the sensitivity of the unknown 
strep is. Augmentin seems like overkill--very expensive and gives a lot 
of people diarrhea.

I don't know about anyone else, but it's not clear to me exactly what 
that lab report means. Perhaps the lab uses a method that only 
identifies strep A, C and G, with the implication that the type of 
strep in the specimen was not a medically significant group. But in 
situations where I don't understand a report, I often call up the lab 
that issued the report, and ask to speak with the lab director. I ask 
the lab director to clarify the report. They're usually very nice about 
it.

Stephanie Walker, RN, FNP

On May 3, 2007, at 6:12 PM, Nila Dickman wrote:

> Hello all,
>  
> I am a very green NP, and although I looked High and low for the 
> answer, I could not find any clear info.
>  
> I got a throat culture back that stated--"" Heavy growth of beta 
> hemolytic streptococcus.  NOT group A, C, or G. ""  
>  
> THis may be a no brainer for most NPs.....but I have been here for 10 
> hours and can't find a clear answer and I think I must have missed the 
> discussion in class.   Please don't laugh ..but     the question is 
> ........ SO  do we treat with Pen VK???     And where can I find some 
> good info that would explain the the different strep groups and the 
> recommended treatments?
>  
> Thanks..
>  
> Nila FNP
>
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