MULTICENTER COMPARATIVE TRIAL OF JOSAMYCIN AND PENICILLIN V AS TREATMENT OF GROUP A BETA HEMOLYTIC STREPTOCOCCUS. (GABHS) PHARYNGITIS

The aim of this multicenter randomized open comparative study was to compare the clinical efficacy, the eradication rate and the tolerance of josamycin 2 g (or 50 mg/kg/d) b.i.d. for 5 days and penicillin V 1 million t.i.d. for 10 days as treatment of GAßHS pharyngitis. Among 265 patients included in the present study, 130 were randomized to receive josamycin and 135 penicillin V. The two groups were homogeneous in all respects, with the exception of cardiovascular disorders which were significantly more frequent in the penicillin V treated patients. The GAßHS eradication rates and clinical efficacy were similar in the 2 groups. Fever duration disappeared significantly faster in the josamycin group (p = 0.04). Safety was identical in both groups. On the basis of the findings of the study, a 5-days course of josamycin can be considered to provide a safe and effective treatment fo GAßHS pharyngitis.