Beta-Hemolytic Streptococcal Illness

Abstract

THE INVESTIGATION reported in this communication is another in our series of clinical trials of various antibiotics in the treatment of β-hemolytic streptococcal disease in children. In this particular study we compared the effectiveness of lincomycin (Lincocin), ampicillin (Polycillin), and potassium penicillin G against these infections. Beta-hemolytic streptococci have been reported to be susceptible in vitro to both lincomycin^1-3 and ampicillin^4-7 in serum concentrations readily attained by oral administration. Lincomycin has also been shown to be effective clinically in children against infections caused by this organism.⁸ The most recent report of its clinical effectiveness is that of Jackson et al.⁹ However, other than the report of Scarzella¹⁰ on the results of a few infections in children, there is no information on the clinical effectiveness of ampicillin against β-hemolytic streptococcal illness. Methods The method used was similar to our clinical trials with other antibiotics which we