Treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis with amoxycillin once a day.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate treatment of group A beta haemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis with amoxycillin once daily compared with phenoxymethylpenicillin three or four times a day.


METHODS
Randomised controlled study of consecutive patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of group A beta haemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis in whom culture of a throat swab yielded positive results.


METHODS
Five family medicine practices.


METHODS
157 patients aged over 3 years who required treatment with antibiotics.


METHODS
Clinical response, bacteriological response, days at work and school lost, and compliance.


RESULTS
During the period of the study 393 patients presented with symptoms suggesting streptococcal pharyngitis; 157 of them had throat swabs that yielded positive results on culture. Eighty two were treated with phenoxymethylpenicillin and 75 with amoxycillin. No difference was observed in the clinical response, days at work and school lost (139 days for 64 patients taking phenoxymethylpenicillin v 100 days for 57 patients taking amoxycillin; p > 0.2), or residual positive cultures after two days (6 (7.3%) v 3 (4%); p > 0.5). A significant difference in the bacteriological response was found after 14 days (5 (6.1%) v 0; p < 0.04) with no positive cultures observed in the amoxycillin group.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the hypothesis that amoxycillin once daily is as effective as phenoxymethylpenicillin in the treatment of group A beta haemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis.
Shvartzman
P
P
Department of Family Medicine, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Tabenkin
H
H
Rosentzwaig
A
A
Dolginov
F
F
D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010404:Penicillin V / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000658:Amoxicillin; D010404:Penicillin V