Macrolide therapy of group A streptococcal pharyngitis: 10 days of macrolide therapy (clarithromycin) is more effective in streptococcal eradication than 5 days (azithromycin).
We compared recommended doses of 2 oral macrolide antibiotics (10 days of clarithromycin, 5 days of azithromycin) for eradicating group A streptococci from the throats of individuals aged > or = 12 years with symptomatic pharyngitis and a positive throat culture. Patients received either clarithromycin (250 mg b.i.d. for 10 days [n=260]) or azythromycin (500 mg on day 1, followed by 250 mg q.d. for 4 days [n=265]). Follow-up throat cultures were obtained both at 13--19 days and at 28--38 days. We evaluated 392 patients (median age, 26 years; clarithromycin, 194 patients; azyithromycin, 198 patients). Ten days of clarithromycin therapy was more effective than 5 days of azithromycin therapy in eradicating the organism (91% [176/194] vs. 82% [162/198]; P=.012). More than 97% of all streptococcal isolates were macrolide-sensitive. Whether these bacteriologic eradication rates were the result of the 2 macrolides compared or were due to differences in duration of therapy could not be determined, but the statistically significant difference in eradication of group A streptococci does raise additional questions about shortened courses of macrolide therapy for this common infection.
Kaplan
E L
EL
Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA. kapla001@.umn.edu
Gooch III
W M
WM
Notario
G F
GF
Craft
J C
JC
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin; D017291:Clarithromycin