Erythromycin Propionate and Potassium Penicillin V in Treatment of Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis

The relative effectiveness of erythromycin propionate and K penicillin V in two dosage schedules was evaluated in the treatment of 261 cases of acute pharyngitis from which Group A hemolytic streptococci were recovered from December, 1958, to June, 1959. Erythromycin propionate, in a daily dose of 30 mg/kg up to 1.0 gm, and K penicillin V, in daily doses of 375 mg and 750 mg, were administered orally for 10 days. The adjusted bacterial cure rate was 78% among 86 patients treated with erythromycin, 72% among 102 patients treated with K penicillin V, 375 mg, and 88% among 73 patients treated with K penicillin V, 750 mg. The data indicate that K penicillin V was more effective in eradicating Group A streptococci from the pharynx in a daily dose of 750 mg than 375 mg, and suggest that erythromycin propionate in the dosage used, was less effective than K penicillin V, 750 mg, but equally as effective as K penicillin V, 375 mg daily. The incidence, time of occurrence, and results of retreatments of bacterial relapses are presented, and two possible causes of relapses are considered.

Download Full-text

Randomized evaluation of benzathine penicillin V twice daily versus potassium penicillin V three times daily in the treatment of group A streptococcal pharyngitis

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1007/bf02111865 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 92-98 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

A. Kaufhold ◽

Keyword(s):

Streptococcal Pharyngitis ◽

Benzathine Penicillin ◽

Penicillin V ◽

Randomized Evaluation ◽

Group A ◽

Potassium Penicillin

Download Full-text

Comparative efficacy and safety of 3-day azithromycin and 10-day penicillin V treatment of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis in children.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.40.4.1005 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 1005-1008 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

L Pacifico ◽

F Scopetti ◽

A Ranucci ◽

M Pataracchia ◽

F Savignoni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Success ◽

Streptococcal Pharyngitis ◽

Efficacy And Safety ◽

Comparative Efficacy ◽

Once Daily ◽

Penicillin V ◽

Oral Regimen ◽

Beta Hemolytic Streptococcus ◽

Group A

The efficacy and safety of a 3-day course of azithromycin oral suspension (10 mg/kg of body weight once daily) were compared with those of penicillin V (50,000 U/kg/day in two divided doses) in children aged 3 to 12 years for the treatment of symptomatic pharyngitis caused by the group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS). For the 154 evaluable patients, the original infecting strain of GABHS was eliminated at the end of follow-up (34 to 36 days after treatment started) from 67 (85.8%) of 78 penicillin-treated patients and 41 (53.9%) of 76 azithromycin-treated patients (P < 0.0001). Overall clinical success was achieved in 71 (91.0%) of 78 penicillin V-treated patients and 57 (75.0%) of 76 azithromycin-treated patients (P < 0.05). Potential drug-related adverse events were reported for 5.5 and 8.6% of the penicillin V- and azithromycin-treated patients, respectively (P = 0.6). In the present study, a once-daily (10 mg/kg), 3-day oral regimen of azithromycin was as safe as a 10-day course of penicillin but did not represent an effective alternative to penicillin for the treatment of GABHS pharyngitis, even for those children with azithromycin-susceptible strains.

Download Full-text