Short-term treatment of streptococcal tonsillitis with ceftriaxone
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D Pavesio1, P Pecco, M G Peisino
1Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy.
Insights
Ceftriaxone effectively treats streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis and scarlet fever in children. Both single-dose and three-day regimens achieved high clinical cure and bacterial eradication rates, showing comparable efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Antibiotic therapy
- Microbiology
Background:
- Streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis and scarlet fever are common childhood bacterial infections.
- Prompt and effective antibiotic treatment is crucial to prevent complications.
- Ceftriaxone is a third-generation cephalosporin with broad-spectrum activity against Streptococcus pyogenes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of short-term ceftriaxone therapy for streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis and scarlet fever in children.
- To compare the effectiveness of a single-dose regimen versus a three-day regimen of ceftriaxone.
Main Methods:
- Sixty children with confirmed streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis or scarlet fever were enrolled.
- Diagnosis was confirmed using rapid enzyme immunoassay and smear tests.
- Participants were randomized to receive either a single 50 mg/kg dose or 50 mg/kg daily for three consecutive days of ceftriaxone.
Main Results:
- 100% clinical cure rate was achieved in both treatment groups.
- Pharyngeal bacterial sterilization was observed in 95% of patients.
- No statistically significant differences in efficacy were found between the single-dose and three-day ceftriaxone regimens.
Conclusions:
- Short-term ceftriaxone therapy is highly effective for treating streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis and scarlet fever in pediatric patients.
- A single dose of ceftriaxone demonstrates comparable efficacy to a three-day course.
- These findings support the potential for simplified, single-dose antibiotic regimens in managing these common infections.
Abstract:
The short-term therapy of streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis and scarlet fever with ceftriaxone (Rocephin) is reported. Sixty children, in whom the clinical diagnosis was confirmed by rapid enzyme immunoassay and smear test, were divided into two randomized groups and treated with a single dose of 50 mg/kg ceftriaxone or 50 mg/kg ceftriaxone on 3 consecutive days. Clinical cure was obtained in 100% of the patients and pharyngeal sterilization in 95%, with no significant differences between the two groups.