Comparison of dirithromycin and penicillin for treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis.

Abstract

In the treatment of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis, penicillin is the drug of choice and erythromycin is the alternative. In a double-blind, randomized study, dirithromycin, a new macrolide, was compared with penicillin for the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis. Of 121 patients who were treated with dirithromycin, 96.7% manifested a favorable clinical response, and of 136 patients treated with penicillin, 94.2% manifested a favorable clinical response. Streptococci were eradicated from the pharynges of 85.3% of 116 dirithromycin-treated patients and 82.5% of 126 penicillin-treated patients who returned for follow-up. There were no statistically significant differences in efficacy between the two groups. The incidence of abdominal symptoms was higher in dirithromycin-treated patients. Being as efficacious as penicillin and having the advantages over erythromycin of once-daily dosing and the lack of drug interactions, dirithromycin is an alternative to penicillin in the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis for patients 12 years of age and older.

• Authors: V S Watkins, M Smietana, P M Conforti, G D Sides, W Huck
• Journal: Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy (Antimicrob Agents Chemother) Vol. 41 Issue 1 Pg. 72-5 (Jan 1997) ISSN: 0066-4804 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8980757 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Macrolides
• Penicillins
• dirithromycin
• Erythromycin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Therapy, Combination (therapeutic use)
• Erythromycin (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Macrolides
• Male
• Penicillins (therapeutic use)
• Pharyngitis (drug therapy, microbiology)
• Streptococcal Infections (drug therapy, microbiology)
• Streptococcus pyogenes (drug effects)
• Treatment Outcome