title: Comparison of dirithromycin and penicillin for treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis.
abstract: In the treatment of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis, penicillin is the drug of choice and erythromycin is the alternative. In a double-blind, randomized study, dirithromycin, a new macrolide, was compared with penicillin for the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis. Of 121 patients who were treated with dirithromycin, 96.7% manifested a favorable clinical response, and of 136 patients treated with penicillin, 94.2% manifested a favorable clinical response. Streptococci were eradicated from the pharynges of 85.3% of 116 dirithromycin-treated patients and 82.5% of 126 penicillin-treated patients who returned for follow-up. There were no statistically significant differences in efficacy between the two groups. The incidence of abdominal symptoms was higher in dirithromycin-treated patients. Being as efficacious as penicillin and having the advantages over erythromycin of once-daily dosing and the lack of drug interactions, dirithromycin is an alternative to penicillin in the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis for patients 12 years of age and older.
authors.affiliation: Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA.
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smietana
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Conforti
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Sides
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018942:Macrolides; D008297:Male; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018942:Macrolides; D010406:Penicillins; C053853:dirithromycin; D004917:Erythromycin