Interfering alpha-streptococci as a protection against recurrent streptococcal tonsillitis in children.
Recurrent streptococcal tonsillitis/pharyngitis is a great problem, especially in certain epidemiological situations. Patients treated with antibiotics often have a disturbed normal throat flora and may lack, e.g., alpha-streptococci known in vitro to have an interfering activity against group A streptococci. Thirty-one patients with recurrent streptococcal tonsillitis were given antibiotics for 10 days. At the end of this treatment they were sprayed in their mouths with four selected alpha-streptococcal strains known to have strong growth inhibiting activity in vitro against most beta-streptococci group A. The follow-up period after this colonization was 3 months. After alpha-streptococcal treatment, none of the patients attracted a new tonsillitis during the follow-up period while 8% of the controls had a second tonsillitis. Treatment of streptococcal tonsillitis/pharyngitis with antibiotics followed by recolonization with alpha-streptococci seems to hinder further recurrences.
Roos
K
K
Ear, Nose, Throat Department, Lundy Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Grahn
E
E
Holm
S E
SE
Johansson
H
H
Lind
L
L
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010404:Penicillin V / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000254:growth & development*; D013298:Streptococcus sanguis; D013997:Time Factors; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
D004917:Erythromycin; D010404:Penicillin V