title: A Reappraisal of the Minimum Duration of Antibiotic Treatment Before Approval of Return to School for Children With Streptococcal Pharyngitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether a single dose of amoxicillin administered to a symptomatic child with confirmed strep throat might allow the child to return to school as little as 12 hours later.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 111 evaluable children with sore throat plus a positive streptococcal rapid antigen detection test (RADT) as well as a positive result for group A Streptococci (GAS). After throat swab specimens were obtained, all participants received a single dose of amoxicillin (50 mg/kg). Twelve to 23 hours after the first dose of amoxicillin, all participants returned in the morning of day 2 for a second throat swab specimen. At the day 2 visit, a nurse or medical assistant obtained an interval history, tympanic membrane temperature, and a pediatrician or nurse practitioner examined the oropharynx.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the morning of day 2, only 10 of 111 participants continued to have a positive RADT result, confirmed by overnight throat culture. GAS were not detectable on the day 2 throat specimen by RADT and also by culture in 91% of the study participants (confidence interval: 86-96%). Seven of 10 failures had a marked decrease in number of β-hemolytic colonies, which were 3+ to 4+ on the initial overnight culture plate and decreased to 1+ on the follow-up (obtained on day 2) throat culture plate. Two participants continued to have 3+ or 4+ GAS after incubation of the second throat culture specimen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even in the late afternoon, a full dose of amoxicillin (50 mg/kg) administered after notification of positive RADT results for GAS resulted in nondetection of GAS in 91% of children the next morning. All children treated with amoxicillin for "strep throat" by 5 PM of day 1 may, if afebrile and improved, attend school on day 2.
authors: From the *Department of Pediatrics, Inova Children's Hospital, Falls Church, Virginia; †Advanced Pediatrics, Vienna, Virginia; ‡Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University School of Medicine, New York, New York; §Research Institute, Rochester General Hospital, Center for Infectious Disease and Immunology, Rochester, New York; and ¶Legacy Pediatrics, Rochester, New York.
authors: Richard H
authors: RH
authors: Schwartz
authors: Danica
authors: D
authors: Kim
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Martin
authors: Michael E
authors: ME
authors: Pichichero
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012574:Schools; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes; D013334:Students; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000658:Amoxicillin