Penicillin tolerance in group A streptococci and treatment failure in streptococcal tonsillitis.
Penicillin tolerance in Streptococcus pyogenes has been suggested as a possible cause of therapeutic failure in streptococcal phryngitis treated with penicillin. In 144 patients with acute group A streptococcal tonsillitis treated with phenoxymethyl penicillin 12.5 mg per kg body weight b.i.d. for 10 days the same T-type was recovered after treatment in 21%. The recovery rate was higher for non-tolerant strains, 23%, than for tolerant strains, 10% (p greater than 0.05). Of patients with a non-tolerant strain 17% had both clinical and bacterial treatment failure in comparison with 5% infected with a tolerant strain (p greater than 0.05). Reinfection with a new serotype occurred in altogether 3%. The present data did not indicate that penicillin tolerance in group A streptococci is of significance in acute tonsillitis treated with phenoxymethylpenicillin for 10 days.
Stjernquist-Desatnik
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Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Lund, Sweden.
Orrling
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Schalén
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Kamme
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C
D000208:Acute Disease; D006801:Humans; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D010404:Penicillin V / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D012008:Recurrence; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
D010404:Penicillin V