title: A comparative study of clarithromycin and penicillin VK in the treatment of outpatients with streptococcal pharyngitis.
abstract: This double-blind, randomized 17-centre clinical trial compared the safety and efficacy of clarithromycin (2 x 125 mg capsules) 12-hourly and penicillin VK (2 x 125 mg tablets in capsules) 6-hourly in the treatment of proven Group A, beta-haemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis. One hundred and twenty-eight patients (clarithromycin: 65, penicillin VK: 63) were enrolled in the study and included in the safety analysis. Clinical and bacteriological evaluations were performed on treatment days 5-7, and within two to ten and 15 to 56 days post-treatment. The post-treatment clinical success and bacteriological cure rates for clarithromycin were 95% (41/43) and 88% (38/43), respectively, with both rates 91% (43/47) for penicillin VK. Three clarithromycin patients withdrew because of adverse events, but only one of these events was possibly drug related. More clarithromycin patients (19/65) reported digestive system related adverse events than did penicillin VK patients (8/63); however, there was no significant difference between treatment groups in the overall number of patients reporting adverse events. Clarithromycin (250 mg, 12-hourly) is a safe and effective as penicillin VK (250 mg, 6-hourly) in the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis.
authors.affiliation: Abbott International Ltd, Abbott Park, Illinois 60064-3500.
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Bachand
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002648:Child; D017291:Clarithromycin; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010404:Penicillin V / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes
chemical_list: D004917:Erythromycin; D017291:Clarithromycin; D010404:Penicillin V