Skip to main content
PMC home page
The BMJ logoLink to The BMJ
. 1993 May 1;306(6886):1170–1172. doi: 10.1136/bmj.306.6886.1170

Treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis with amoxycillin once a day.

P Shvartzman 1, H Tabenkin 1, A Rosentzwaig 1, F Dolginov 1
PMCID: PMC1677641  PMID: 8499823

Abstract

OBJECTIVE--To evaluate treatment of group A beta haemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis with amoxycillin once daily compared with phenoxymethylpenicillin three or four times a day. DESIGN--Randomised controlled study of consecutive patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of group A beta haemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis in whom culture of a throat swab yielded positive results. SETTING--Five family medicine practices. SUBJECTS--157 patients aged over 3 years who required treatment with antibiotics. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Clinical response, bacteriological response, days at work and school lost, and compliance. RESULTS--During the period of the study 393 patients presented with symptoms suggesting streptococcal pharyngitis; 157 of them had throat swabs that yielded positive results on culture. Eighty two were treated with phenoxymethylpenicillin and 75 with amoxycillin. No difference was observed in the clinical response, days at work and school lost (139 days for 64 patients taking phenoxymethylpenicillin v 100 days for 57 patients taking amoxycillin; p > 0.2), or residual positive cultures after two days (6 (7.3%) v 3 (4%); p > 0.5). A significant difference in the bacteriological response was found after 14 days (5 (6.1%) v 0; p < 0.04) with no positive cultures observed in the amoxycillin group. CONCLUSIONS--These findings support the hypothesis that amoxycillin once daily is as effective as phenoxymethylpenicillin in the treatment of group A beta haemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis.

Full text

PDF
1170

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Ayd F. J., Jr Editorial: Single daily dose of antidepressants. JAMA. 1974 Oct 14;230(2):263–264. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BREESE B. B., DISNEY F. A., TALPEY W. B. PENICILLIN IN STREPTOCOCCAL INFECTIONS; TOTAL DOSE AND FREQUENCY OF ADMINISTRATION. Am J Dis Child. 1965 Aug;110:125–130. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1965.02090030135003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Combs J. T. Amoxicillin therapy for strep throat. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1992 Feb;11(2):132–132. doi: 10.1097/00006454-199202000-00018. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Eisen S. A., Miller D. K., Woodward R. S., Spitznagel E., Przybeck T. R. The effect of prescribed daily dose frequency on patient medication compliance. Arch Intern Med. 1990 Sep;150(9):1881–1884. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Gerber M. A., Randolph M. F., Chanatry J., Wright L. L., Anderson L. R., Kaplan E. L. Once daily therapy for streptococcal pharyngitis with cefadroxil. J Pediatr. 1986 Sep;109(3):531–537. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(86)80139-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Gerber M. A., Randolph M. F., DeMeo K., Feder H. M., Jr, Kaplan E. L. Failure of once-daily penicillin V therapy for streptococcal pharyngitis. Am J Dis Child. 1989 Feb;143(2):153–155. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1989.02150140039016. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Hosier D. M., Craenen J. M., Teske D. W., Wheller J. J. Resurgence of acute rheumatic fever. Am J Dis Child. 1987 Jul;141(7):730–733. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1987.04460070032015. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Raz R., Sharir R., Yelin N. [Diagnosis and treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis]. Harefuah. 1989 Dec 1;117(11):390–391. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Reed B. D., Huck W., Zazove P. Treatment of beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis with cefaclor or penicillin. Efficacy and interaction with beta-lactamase-producing organisms in the pharynx. J Fam Pract. 1991 Feb;32(2):138–144. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Stevens D. L., Tanner M. H., Winship J., Swarts R., Ries K. M., Schlievert P. M., Kaplan E. Severe group A streptococcal infections associated with a toxic shock-like syndrome and scarlet fever toxin A. N Engl J Med. 1989 Jul 6;321(1):1–7. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198907063210101. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Touw-Otten F. W., Johansen K. S. Diagnosis, antibiotic treatment and outcome of acute tonsillitis: report of a WHO Regional Office for Europe study in 17 European countries. Fam Pract. 1992 Sep;9(3):255–262. doi: 10.1093/fampra/9.3.255. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Veasy L. G., Wiedmeier S. E., Orsmond G. S., Ruttenberg H. D., Boucek M. M., Roth S. J., Tait V. F., Thompson J. A., Daly J. A., Kaplan E. L. Resurgence of acute rheumatic fever in the intermountain area of the United States. N Engl J Med. 1987 Feb 19;316(8):421–427. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198702193160801. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Wallace M. R., Garst P. D., Papadimos T. J., Oldfield E. C., 3rd The return of acute rheumatic fever in young adults. JAMA. 1989 Nov 10;262(18):2557–2561. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from BMJ : British Medical Journal are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES