According to the Centor criteria, what does a score of 4-5 points indicate?

A score of 4-5 points on the Centor criteria indicates a strong likelihood of a bacterial infection, specifically streptococcal pharyngitis. The Centor criteria evaluate four clinical features: the presence of tonsillar exudates, swollen tender anterior cervical lymph nodes, fever, and absence of cough. With a higher score, especially in the range of 4 to 5, the likelihood that the patient's sore throat is due to a streptococcal infection increases significantly.

In this scenario, antibiotic treatment is recommended to address the infection effectively. The rationale behind administering antibiotics in this case is to reduce symptoms, prevent the potential for complications (such as rheumatic fever), and decrease the duration of illness.

Other choices do not align with the clinical decision-making supported by the Centor criteria for a score of 4-5. While further examination may be beneficial for lower scores or specific cases, the clear guideline here is that a high score merits prompt antibiotic treatment.