Treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis. I. Clinical evaluation

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Streptococcal pharyngitis remains a common bacterial infection.
• Effective antibiotic therapy and patient compliance are crucial for treatment success.
• Understanding optimal treatment durations and alternative medications is important.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of cephalexin and penicillin in treating streptococcal pharyngitis.
• To assess patient compliance with oral medication regimens.
• To determine the optimal duration for antibiotic therapy.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 118 patients diagnosed with beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis was studied.
• Patient compliance was monitored through follow-up and urine tests.
• Clinical and bacteriological outcomes were compared between penicillin and cephalexin treatment groups.

Main Results:

• Patient compliance with follow-up was 72%, with 66 out of 74 patients taking oral medication.
• Both cephalexin and penicillin achieved high streptococcal eradication rates (>98%).
• No significant differences in clinical or bacteriological results were observed between the 7th and 10th day of therapy.

Conclusions:

• Patient adherence to treatment regimens requires focused attention.
• A seven-day course of penicillin may be adequate for eradicating beta-hemolytic streptococci.
• Cephalexin is a viable alternative to penicillin for treating streptococcal pharyngitis.