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Antibiotics in treatment of peritonsillar infection: clindamycin versus penicillin

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2021

F Hallgren ,
E Lindell ,
B Nilsson-Helger  and
A Lundqvist
F Hallgren*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Södra Älvsborg Hospital, Borås, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Sweden
E Lindell
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Södra Älvsborg Hospital, Borås, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Sweden
B Nilsson-Helger
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Södra Älvsborg Hospital, Borås, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Sweden
A Lundqvist
Affiliation:
Department of Infectious Diseases, Södra Älvsborg Hospital, Borås, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Sweden
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Frida Hallgren, ENT Department, Södra Älvsborg Hospital, 501 82 Borås, Sweden E-mail: frida.hallgren@vgregion.se
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Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to compare antibiotic treatment with clindamycin versus penicillin V or G in terms of time to recovery and recurrence in patients with peritonsillar infection, including both peritonsillar cellulitis and peritonsillar abscess.

Method

This retrospective cohort study examined the records of 296 patients diagnosed with peritonsillar infection. Based on the ENT doctor's choice of antibiotics, patients were divided into clindamycin and penicillin groups.

Results

Mean number of days in follow up was 3.5 days in the clindamycin group and 3.4 days in the penicillin group. The recurrence rate within 2 months was 7 per cent in the clindamycin group and 4 per cent in the penicillin group.

Conclusion

This study found no significant differences in either recovery or recurrence between the groups. This supports the use of penicillin as a first-line treatment, considering the greater frequency of adverse effects of clindamycin shown in previous studies, as well as its profound collateral damage on the intestinal microbiota, resulting in antibiotic resistance.

Keywords

Peritonsillar AbscessPenicillinsClindamycinAnti-Bacterial Agents

Information

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 135 , Issue 1 , January 2021 , pp. 64 - 69
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Dr F Hallgren takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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