title: Loracarbef versus phenoxymethylpenicillin in the treatment of recurrent streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis.
abstract: Knowledge of the treatment of recurrent group A streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis has, so far, been based on studies of non-recurrent rather than recurrent episodes of the disease. This multicentre, double-blind, randomized trial was designed to compare the efficacy of loracarbef (200 mg twice daily) vs phenoxymethylpenicillin (penicillin V) (800/1000 mg twice daily) each for 10 days in the treatment of recurrent group A streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis. Among the 331 patients enrolled in the study, 265 were evaluable for efficacy. The combined clinical and bacteriological failure rate was 8.2% in the loracarbef group and 21.5% in the penicillin V group (p = 0.008). Bacterial eradication was noted in 90% of loracarbef-treated patients compared to 66% of penicillin V-treated patients (p < 0.0005). The higher bacteriological eradication and clinical efficacy rate among loracarbef patients might be related to higher stability of loracarbef in the presence of beta-lactamases produced by the oral microflora. These results suggest loracarbef to be a strong candidate for treatment of patients with recurrent group A streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, Lundby Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Larsson
mesh_terms: D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D010404:Penicillin V / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; D010406:Penicillins; C054920:loracarbef; D010404:Penicillin V