Depending on the season, up to 20% of people can carry Group A Strep. Throat swabs are not recommended for patients with sore throats associated with cold symptoms.
Bugs & Drugs® is the recommended reference for treatment of infectious diseases and appropriate antimicrobial use. It is peer-reviewed, evidence-based, and frequently updated. Bugs & Drugs® is supported by the Do Bugs Need Drugs? ® community-education program, and is funded by the Health Ministries of the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. To access it, please use the following links.
Alberta:
- AHS staff & physicians with an AHS computer: Bugs & Drugs® (AHS)
- For Albertans without an institutional affiliation: Bugs & Drugs®
- To access through Netcare, please log in and go to Clinical eTOOLS.
British Columbia:
Using the web version in both Alberta and British Columbia requires an ISP address located within the province.