Sepsis and acute deterioration
Recognise high-risk features, altered mental state, respiratory compromise, poor perfusion, non-blanching rash and when emergency escalation is needed.
MRCGP AKT minor illness and urgent care revision
Minor illness questions are rarely just about naming a diagnosis. They test primary-care triage: what can wait, what needs same-day review, what needs antibiotics, and what must be escalated because the patient is becoming unsafe.
Quick answer
For AKT minor illness and urgent care, prioritise sepsis recognition, NEWS2, same-day triage, delayed antibiotics, acute otitis media, tonsillitis, sinusitis, upper and lower respiratory infection, UTI red flags, safety-netting and antimicrobial stewardship.
What to revise first
Minor illness triage
Decide whether self-care, routine review, same-day assessment, delayed prescription, immediate treatment or emergency referral is safest.
Delayed antibiotics
Know when back-up or delayed antibiotics fit self-limiting respiratory and ENT infections, and when immediate antibiotics or escalation are needed.
ENT infections
Revise acute otitis media, tonsillitis, sinusitis, FeverPAIN or Centor scoring, red flags, complications and when to refer.
UTI and common infections
Cover lower UTI, pyelonephritis red flags, pregnancy, men, children, catheterised patients and when urine culture changes management.
Safety-netting
Be precise about worsening features, timeframe, who to contact and what should trigger same-day or emergency review.
Recent feedback signal
The April 2026 RCGP AKT feedback report highlighted minor illnesses alongside prescribing, medication monitoring, data protection, safeguarding and confidentiality. Treat that as a signal to revise risk thresholds, not just lists of common diagnoses.
Red flags to recognise quickly
- Suspected sepsis or rapidly worsening acute illness
- Non-blanching rash with systemic illness
- Respiratory distress, hypoxia, exhaustion or inability to complete sentences
- Periorbital cellulitis, visual change or severe frontal headache in sinusitis
- Mastoiditis signs, systemically unwell child, otorrhoea or high-risk otitis media
- Pyelonephritis, pregnancy UTI, male UTI, catheter-associated infection or recurrent UTI patterns
AKT minor illness and urgent care FAQ
Is minor illness tested in the MRCGP AKT?
Yes. Minor illness appears through applied GP presentations such as respiratory infections, ENT symptoms, urinary symptoms, febrile children, prescribing decisions, safety-netting and when to escalate urgent care.
What urgent care topics should I revise for AKT?
Prioritise sepsis recognition, acute deterioration, NEWS2 as an adjunct to clinical judgement, same-day triage, delayed antibiotics, respiratory and ENT infections, UTI red flags and safety-netting.
Should I memorise NEWS2 for AKT?
Know what NEWS2 is for and how it supports recognition of acute deterioration, but do not treat it as a substitute for clinical judgement. AKT questions often test the unsafe patient, not only a score.
How do delayed antibiotics appear in AKT questions?
They usually test antimicrobial stewardship and risk thresholds: when a self-limiting infection can be managed with advice or a back-up prescription, and when symptoms require immediate treatment or escalation.
Official sources
This is revision guidance, not official RCGP advice. Check current RCGP, NICE CKS, NHS England and BNF guidance for clinical decisions. Last reviewed June 2026.
October sitting
Oct 26
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days
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