Streptococcal Pharyngitis Therapy

Abstract

Penicillin has been established as the antibiotic of choice for the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis. A dose of 125 mg or 200,000 units of phenoxymethyl penicillin (penicillin V) administered three times daily for ten days has been recommended for oral treatment by the American Heart Association.¹ Despite reports of success with the above dose by several investigators,^2-4 larger doses have been recommended by others.^5-9 The possible relationship of suboptimal doses of phenoxymethyl penicillin to relapses after therapy was noted by us during treatment studies employing several antibiotics.^10-12 This communication summarizes a four-year experience with two dosage schedules of phenoxymethyl penicillin administered orally against group A streptococcal pharyngitis and also evaluates other factors which might influence the outcome of treatment. A planned study was also undertaken in well children to determine blood levels after the ingestion of 125 mg and 250 mg of potassium phenoxymethyl penicillin in