Previously healthy adults (aged ≥18 years)

Acute illness (duration ≤7 days)

Presenting with sore throat as the main symptom and have a FeverPAIN score ≥2

Patients not consenting

Inability to obtain throat swabs

Treating clinician believes that the most likely cause of the sore throat is something other than a bacterial or viral infection (that is, thrush, trauma, referred pain, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease)

Patients who are known or thought to have significant immune compromise (such as those with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, AIDS, asplenia, congenital immunodeficiency, undergoing chemotherapy, or recent corticosteroid therapy).

Patients on immunosuppressive therapy (including oral and inhaled steroids)

Active haematological malignancy

Undergoing treatment for cancer or has a life-limiting illness (for example, end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD])

Currently pregnant

Have been on antibiotics for this illness

Patients not consenting

Patients currently taking antibiotics

Inability to obtain throat swabs

Active haematological malignancy (undergoing treatment for cancer or has a life-limiting illness [for example, end-stage COPD)])

Currently pregnant