Maxwell Stillerman

Streptococcal Pharyngitis Therapy: Comparison of Clindamycin Palmitate and Potassium Phenoxymethyl Penicillin

Clindamycin palmitate and potassium phenoxymethyl penicillin were evaluated in 103 children with upper respiratory illnesses and pharyngeal group A streptococci, from November 1970 to July 1971. The children were assigned randomly by weight to one of the antibiotic regimens given orally for 10 days. Clindamycin palmitate and potassium phenoxymethyl penicillin dosages were 75 and 125 mg, respectively, in 5 ml tid for children weighing less than 25 kg, and 150 and 250 mg, respectively, in 10 ml bid for children weighing 25 kg or more. Recurrences of the original streptococcal group A, M, and T types within 3 weeks after the end of treatment were classified as failures. The failure rates were: clindamycin palmitate, 10% (5 of 52), and potassium phenoxymethyl penicillin, 18% (9 of 51). Possible drug-related rashes were observed in 8 of 52 clindamycin palmitate-treated patients. The geometric mean minimal inhibitory concentrations of clindamycin and penicillin against 103 isolates of group A streptococci were 0.033 and 0.007 μg/ml, respectively. The serum concentrations about 70 min after ingesting 150 mg of clindamycin palmitate averaged 3.8 μg/ml and after 250 mg of potassium phenoxymethyl penicillin averaged 0.9 μg/ml. Clindamycin palmitate was as effective as potassium phenoxymethyl penicillin in eradicating group A streptococci from the pharynx in tid and bid regimens. Nevertheless, because of its rash-producing tendency in some patients and higher cost, clindamycin palmitate should not be preferred to penicillin for treatment of streptococcal sore throat in the non-penicillin-allergic patient.

Virus Isolated from Nasal Washings during Acute Poliomyelitis in New York City in 1935.

Conclusion Poliomyelitis virus was isolated from the nasopharyngeal secretions of a bulbar case on the 9th day of illness. The authors wish to acknowledge their appreciation to Dr. Morris Schaeffer of the Bureau of Laboratories, New York City Department of Health, for his valuable suggestions during this work.

Prevention and Modification of Measles with Concentrated Pooled Ascites Fluid and with Its Globulin Fraction.

Summary Measles-protecting substances have been found in pooled ascites fluid and its globulin fraction in sufficient quantities to be of practical value. The efficiency in measles prophylaxis of 2 concentrates of pooled ascites fluid and of a globulin fraction was found proportional to the globulin content of each preparation.