🦠 McIsaac Score (Age-Adjusted Centor)
UseDeciding on pathogen testing in acute sore throat.
StrataCentor 1981: culture positivity 56%, 32%, 15%, 6.5% and 2.5% with 4, 3, 2, 1 and 0 criteria. Per IDSA 2012, a…
LimitsThe score guides testing, not empiric antibiotics. · Name: McIsaac score (age-adjusted Centor).
SourceShulman ST, et al. Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis and management of group A streptoc…
This-shift next steps
After scoring: open the scene pack, peer scores, and the matching pathway. Local reference — no HIS write.
Paste the link in Slack, Teams, X, or LinkedIn — the preview image comes from this page’s Open Graph card.
Methodology · worked example, guidelines & full notes
Four Centor criteria + age = McIsaac.
When to use
Deciding on pathogen testing in acute sore throat.
How it works
Tonsillar exudate, tender anterior cervical nodes, absent cough, fever 1 each; age 3–14 +1, 15–44 0, ≥45 −1.
Key points
- Four Centor criteria + age = McIsaac.
- Antibiotics follow the test result (IDSA 2012).
- Sources: Centor 1981, McIsaac 1998.
References
- [Guideline / primary source]Shulman ST, et al. Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis and management of group A streptococcal pharyngitis: 2012 update by the IDSA. Clin Infect Dis 2012;55:1279-82. PMID 23091044
- Centor RM, et al. The diagnosis of strep throat in adults in the emergency room. Med Decis Making 1981;1:239-46. PMID 6763125
- McIsaac WJ, et al. A clinical score to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use in patients with sore throat. CMAJ 1998;158:75-83. PMID 9475915
Worked calculation
The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.
| Tonsillar exudate/swelling | No |
|---|---|
| Tender anterior cervical nodes | No |
| Fever > 38°C | No |
| Cough absent | No (cough present) |
| Age | 15–44 (0) |
→McIsaac score0
- Testing and antibiotics：Per IDSA 2012, antibiotic use depends on the rapid antigen test or throat culture result, not on the score alone.
- Version：McIsaac 1998 adds an age adjustment to the four Centor 1981 criteria.
| Tonsillar exudate/swelling | No |
|---|---|
| Tender anterior cervical nodes | No |
| Fever > 38°C | No |
| Cough absent | No (cough present) |
| Age | 3–14 (+1) |
→McIsaac score1
- Testing and antibiotics：Per IDSA 2012, antibiotic use depends on the rapid antigen test or throat culture result, not on the score alone.
- Version：McIsaac 1998 adds an age adjustment to the four Centor 1981 criteria.
Verification & sources · governance
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- Does McIsaac Score (Age-Adjusted Centor) upload patient data? Where is it calculated?
- Calculation runs locally in the browser; inputs and results are not uploaded. For licensed clinicians only; interpret with history, investigations and local protocols — not a diagnosis or prescription.
- How is McIsaac Score (Age-Adjusted Centor) calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
- Inputs: Tonsillar exudate/swelling No, Tender anterior cervical nodes No, Fever > 38°C No, Cough absent No (cough present), Age 15–44 (0) → Result: McIsaac score 0（Testing and antibiotics: Per IDSA 2012, antibiotic use depends on the rapid antigen test or throat culture result, not on the score alone., Version: McIsaac 1998 adds an age adjustment to the four Centor 1981 criteria.） Inputs: Tonsillar exudate/swelling No, Tender anterior cervical nodes No, Fever > 38°C No, Cough absent No (cough present), Age 3–14 (+1) → Result: McIsaac score 1（Testing and antibiotics: Per IDSA 2012, antibiotic use depends on the rapid antigen test or throat culture result, not on the score alone., Version: McIsaac 1998 adds an age adjustment to the four Centor 1981 criteria.）