Large-Scale Validation of the Centor and McIsaac Scores to Predict Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis

Abstract

Background The Centor and McIsaac scores guide testing and treatment for group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis in patients presenting with a sore throat, but were derived on relatively small samples. We perform a national-scale validation of the prediction models on a large, geographically diverse population. Methods Analysis of data collected from 206,870 patients 3 years and above who presented with a painful throat to a United States national retail health chain, from September 2006-December 2008. Main outcome meaures were the proportions of patients testing positive for GAS pharyngitis according to Centor and McIsaac scores (both scales 0-4). Results For patients 15 years and older, 23% (95% confidence interval (CI) 22%-23%) tested GAS positive including 7% (7-8%) of those with a Centor score of 0, 12% (11-12%) with 1, 21% (21-22%) with 2, 38% (38-39%) with 3, and 57% (56-58%) with 4. For patients 3 years and older, 27% (95% CI 27-27%) tested GAS positive with 8% (8-9%) of those testing positive with McIsaac score 0, 14% (13-14%) with 1, 23% (23-23%) with 2, 37% (37-37%) with 3, and 55% (55-56%) with 4. 95% CI’s overlapped between the MinuteClinic derived probabilities and the prior reports. Conclusion Our study validates the Centor and McIsaac scores and more precisely classifies risk of GAS infection among patients presenting with a painful throat to a retail health chain.

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