Peritonsillar abscess: a comparison of outpatient i.m. clindamycin and inpatient i.v. ampicillin/sulbactam following needle aspiration.
In an attempt to assess the effect of antibiotic choice on the treatment of peritonsillar abscess, we compared the clinical efficacy of empiric intramuscular clindamycin and intravenous ampicillin/sulbactam (following needle aspiration of the abscess) in a prospective, randomized study of 58 patients. Patients in the clindamycin group were treated on an outpatient basis, whereas those in the ampicillin/sulbactam group were hospitalized for the duration of their treatment (minimum: 7 days). Comparison of clinical outcomes with respect to the posttherapeutic duration of fever and throat pain and the time to resumption of eating revealed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. These results suggest that intramuscular clindamycin is an excellent choice and can be safely prescribed on an outpatient basis following needle aspiration, thereby reducing both antibiotic and hospital costs.
Ozbek
Cem
C
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ankara Numune Research and Education Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. mcemozbek@yahoo.com
Aygenc
Erdinc
E
Unsal
Evrim
E
Ozdem
Cafer
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000039:Peritonsillar Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013407:Sulbactam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002981:Clindamycin; D000667:Ampicillin; D013407:Sulbactam