Comparison of 5 days of extended-release clarithromycin versus 10 days of penicillin V for the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis/tonsillitis: results of a multicenter, double-blind, randomized study in adolescent and adult patients

Curr Med Res Opin. 2003;19(5):421-9. doi: 10.1185/030079903125002027.

Abstract

Objective: This study compared a short-course of clarithromycin with a standard course of penicillin V in patients with tonsillopharyngitis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes.

Research design and methods: A total of 539 patients, aged 12-75 years, were randomized to receive either clarithromycin extended-release (ER) 500 mg once daily for 5 days or penicillin V 500 mg three times daily for 10 days in this multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group trial. Eligibility required a positive antigen test for group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS) followed by confirmatory culture.

Main outcome measures: Bacteriological and clinical assessments were conducted at each study visit (visit 1: study day 1; visit 2: study day 3; visit 3: study days 8-12; visit 4: study days 13-20; and visit 5: study days 40-50).

Results: At the test-of-cure visit (visit 3 for clarithromycin ER patients and visit 4 for penicillin V patients) in per-protocol patients, 5 days of clarithromycin ER was comparable to 10 days of penicillin V in eradicating S. pyogenes (89% (157/177) vs 90% (139/154) respectively; 95% CI for difference (-8.2, 5.1)). Bacterial eradication was sustained in both treatment groups at the follow-up visit (88% (135/153) vs 91% (112/123) respectively; 95% CI for difference (-10.0, 4.4)). Clinical cure was achieved in > or = 94% of patients in each treatment group. The most commonly reported study drug-related adverse events (< or = 3% in either treatment group) were abdominal pain, diarrhea, dyspepsia and nausea.

Conclusion: Clarithromycin ER 500 mg once daily for 5 days is equally effective as penicillin V 500 mg three times daily for 10 days in the treatment of adolescent and adult patients with streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Clarithromycin / pharmacology
  • Clarithromycin / therapeutic use*
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Compliance
  • Penicillin V / pharmacology
  • Penicillin V / therapeutic use*
  • Pharyngitis / drug therapy*
  • Pharyngitis / microbiology
  • Streptococcal Infections / drug therapy*
  • Streptococcus pyogenes* / drug effects
  • Tonsillitis / drug therapy*
  • Tonsillitis / microbiology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Clarithromycin
  • Penicillin V