title: Streptococcal pharyngitis: is penicillin still the drug of choice?
abstract: With the advent of cephalosporins, penicillin appears to have lost some ground for treatment of Acute Group A Beta Hemolytic Streptococcal Pharyngitis. It has been argued for some time now whether penicillin should remain the drug of choice for the management of this infection. Evidence has been presented both in favour and against using penicillin for Group A beta hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) pharyngotonsillitis. In this commentary, we review the available data in the current literature and conclude that penicillin should still remain the drug of first consideration for GABHS pharyngitis. If penicillin treatments were less effective now, the clinical and bacteriologic failure rates should be on the rise compared to the previous years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Michigan State University, Kalamazoo Centre for Medical Studies 49008, USA.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Rajesh
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010406:Penicillins