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Effects of upper airway anesthesia on pharyngeal patency during sleep.

Pharyngeal patency depends, in part, on the tone and inspiratory activation of pharyngeal dilator muscles. To evaluate the influence of upper airway sensory feedback on pharyngeal muscle tone and thus pharyngeal patency, we measured pharyngeal airflow resistance and breathing pattern in 15 normal, supine subjects before and after topical lidocaine anesthesia of the pharynx and glottis. Studies were conducted during sleep and during quiet, relaxed wakefulness before sleep onset. Maximal flow-volume loops were also measured before and after anesthesia. During sleep, pharyngeal resistance at peak inspiratory flow increased by 63% after topical anesthesia (P less than 0.01). Resistance during expiration increased by 40% (P less than 0.01). Similar changes were observed during quiet wakefulness. However, upper airway anesthesia did not affect breathing pattern during sleep and did not alter awake flow-volume loops. These results indicate that pharyngeal patency during sleep is compromised when the upper airway is anesthetized and suggest that upper airway reflexes, which promote pharyngeal patency, exist in humans.

Adult↗

Phasic respiratory pharyngeal mechanics by magnetic resonance imaging in lean and obese zucker rats.

RATIONALE: Although obstructive sleep apnea is strongly associated with obesity, we have little understanding of how obesity may alter the mechanical properties of the pharynx and the role of obesity in the pathogenesis of sleep apnea. OBJECTIVES: The overall objective of this study was to determine the effect of obesity on pharyngeal airway size and pharyngeal wall tissue strain in lean and obese Zucker rats. METHODS: Respiratory-gated magnetic resonance imaging with noninvasive tissue tagging was performed in anesthetized, spontaneously breathing lean (n = 9) and obese (n = 9) Zucker rats. Images acquired during expiration and inspiration of the rostral, mid-, and caudal pharynx were analyzed for airway size and pharyngeal wall tissue strain, using planimetry, optical flow, and finite element analyses. Differences in cross-sectional airway area, lateral and anteroposterior airway diameters, and tissue strain (stretch, compression, and direction of stretch) in the lateral and ventral pharyngeal walls were compared by analysis of variance (significance at p < 0.05). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Compared with their lean littermates, obese rats had the following significant findings: reduced pharyngeal airway cross-sectional area during inspiration and expiration, smaller increases in airway area during inspiration, and decreased lateral airway dilation during inspiration. Tissue strain in the pharyngeal walls showed no significant differences between obese and lean rats. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that obesity results in a mechanical abnormality that decreases pharyngeal airway size and prevents a normal airway response to a given change in pharyngeal wall tissue strain.

Airway Resistance↗

Robot-assisted pharyngeal and laryngeal microsurgery: results of robotic cadaver dissections.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Robotic surgery has significant potential in pharyngeal and microlaryngeal surgery. We demonstrate the use of a surgical robot in pharyngeal and microlaryngeal surgery in a cadaver. STUDY DESIGN: Six experimental surgical dissections, modeled after commonly performed pharyngeal and microlaryngeal procedures, were performed in a cadaver with a commercially available surgical robot in an operating room suite to demonstrate proof of concept. METHODS: Using the daVinci Surgical Robot (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA), surgical procedures were performed on an edentulous, female cadaver. The procedures included 1) bilateral true vocal cord stripping, 2) rotation of a mucosal flap from the epiglottis to the anterior commissure, 3) partial vocal cordectomy, 4) arytenoidectomy, 5) partial epiglottectomy and thyrohyoid dissection and 6) partial resection of the base of tongue with primary closure. All procedures were timed and documented with still and video photography. RESULTS: The daVinci Surgical Robot, with currently available instruments, enabled performance of several laryngeal and pharyngeal surgical procedures on a cadaver. Laryngeal and pharyngeal exposure was excellent, instruments movement was unimpeded, tissue handling was delicate and precise, and endolaryngeal suturing was relatively easily performed. The duration of the different robotic cadaver dissections was comparable to procedure duration using conventional techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Using the daVinci Surgical Robot, six different pharyngeal and microlaryngeal dissections were successfully performed in a cadaver. The recent development of surgical robotics has a potential role in pharyngeal and microlaryngeal surgery. Surgical robots offer the ability to manipulate instruments at their distal ends with increased freedom of movement, scaled movement, tremor buffering, and under stereoscopic three-dimensional visualization. Surgical robots may increase the precision with which we perform currently described procedures; additionally, surgical robots may advance the field of endoscopic laryngeal and pharyngeal surgery.

Cadaver↗

Pharyngeal flap and facial growth.

The present study addressed two questions. Does the skeletal pattern of children with cleft lip and palate who require a pharyngeal flap differ from children with similar clefts who do not? Following a pharyngeal flap does the pattern of facial development change? Skeletal form prior to pharyngeal flap was compared using cephalograms in 52 subjects with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) who subsequently received a superiorly based pharyngeal flap and 52 UCLP controls matched for sex and age. The flap group had slightly smaller maxillary length and anterior face heights and greater mandibular protrusion (p less than 0.5) before the pharyngeal flaps were done. Preoperative and five year (minimum) postoperative records were analyzed for 29 early pharyngeal flap cases and 29 matched controls. Subsequent growth demonstrated some assimilation of the flap group with the controls, but repeated measures analysis of variance failed to identify any important differences in growth after pharyngeal flap, suggesting that the superiorly based pharyngeal flap carries no systematic risk of interference with facial growth.

Adolescent↗

Incidence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea following pharyngeal flap surgery in patients with cleft palate.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) associated with pharyngeal flap surgery in patients with cleft palate at least 6 months postoperatively and to determine whether age or the flap width had an effect on them. The hypothesis tested in this study was that the severity of OSA associated with pharyngeal flap surgery is greater in children than in adults. SUBJECTS: Ten adults, six men and four women, with a mean age of 28.0 years at pharyngeal flap (adult group). Twenty-eight children, 13 boys and 15 girls, with a mean age of 6.3 years at pharyngeal flap (child group). DESIGN: A prospective analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: An overnight polysomnographic study was used to determine the incidence and severity of OSA 6 months after pharyngeal flap. RESULTS: The incidence of OSA following pharyngeal flap was high but not significantly different between these two groups (90% in adults and 93% in children, p = 1.000). When OSA was stratified into different levels of severity according to the values of respiratory disturbance index, there were noticeable differences between these two groups (p =.022). In the adult group, eight patients (89%) had mild OSA and 1 patient (11%) had moderate to severe OSA. In the child group, 11 patients (42%) were found to have mild OSA, and 15 patients (58%) had moderate to severe OSA. No relation was found between the flap width and the incidence (p =.435 in adults and.640 in children) or the severity (p =.325 in adults and.310 in children) of OSA in each group. CONCLUSIONS: Six months following pharyngeal flap surgery, more than 90% of the patients with cleft palate still had OSA. The severity of OSA associated with pharyngeal flap surgery tended to be greater in children than in adults. The flap width was unrelated to the incidence and severity of OSA, no matter in adults or in children.

Adult↗

Videofluoroscopic assessment of patients with dysphagia: pharyngeal retention is a predictive factor for aspiration.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the clinical significance of pharyngeal retention to predict aspiration in patients with dysphagia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: At videofluoroscopy, pharyngeal retention was found in 108 (28%; 73 males, 35 females; mean age, 60 years) of 386 patients with a suspected deglutition disorder. Swallowing function was assessed videofluoroscopically. The amount of residual contrast material in the valleculae or piriform sinuses was graded as mild, moderate, or severe. The frequency, type, and grade of aspiration were assessed. RESULTS: Pharyngeal retention was caused by pharyngeal weakness or paresis in 103 (95%) of 108 patients. In 70 patients (65%) with pharyngeal retention, postdeglutitive overflow aspiration was found. Aspiration was more often found in patients who had additional functional abnormalities such as incomplete laryngeal closure or impaired epiglottic tilting (p < 0.05). Postdeglutitive aspiration was diagnosed in 25% patients with mild, in 29% with moderate, and in 89% with severe pharyngeal retention (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Postdeglutitive overflow aspiration is a frequent finding in patients with pharyngeal retention, and the risk of aspiration increases markedly with the amount of residue. Functional abnormalities other than pharyngeal weakness, such as impaired laryngeal closure, may contribute to aspiration.

Deglutition Disorders↗

Surveillance of pharyngeal colonization: detection and control of serious bacterial illness in low birth weight infants.

Routine surveillance for bacterial colonization has been used for the past three decades as a tool for the prediction of nosocomial infection in low birth weight infants; however, its usefulness has never been proven. A prospective cohort study was conducted to examine the utility of surveillance for pharyngeal colonization in detection and control of serious bacterial illness in low birth weight infants. One hundred fifty-four infants who weighed less than 1750 g and who were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit were enrolled and followed for a total of 5620 infant-days. Pharyngeal cultures were collected at the time of enrollment and then weekly. All infants had bacterial pharyngeal colonization by the third day of life. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most common organisms cultured from the pharynx, followed by viridans streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus. More than 90% of the pharyngeal cultures grew multiple isolates. Gram-positive organisms, particularly coagulase-negative staphylococci, were the most prevalent organism recovered from blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures. Fifty-two episodes of bacteremia and 6 episodes of cerebrospinal fluid infection occurred in 42 infants. Among infants with viridans streptococci in pharyngeal cultures, the subsequent risk of serious bacterial illness was significantly reduced (odds ratio = 0.16). However, pharyngeal cultures were poor predictors of the causative organism in an episode of serious bacterial illness. Pharyngeal and blood/cerebrospinal fluid cultures were concordant in only 11% of invasive infections. We conclude that pharyngeal surveillance cultures provide little clinically meaningful information and have no apparent utility in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit setting.

Analysis of Variance↗

Clinical scoring system in the evaluation of adult pharyngitis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare results of a clinical scoring system for diagnosis of group A streptococcal pharyngitis with microbiologic results, when several different pharyngeal pathogens were tested simultaneously. DESIGN: Evaluation of clinical manifestations of 106 adult patients with pharyngitis of different microbial origin. SETTING: General private practice; Health Center Pulssi, Turku, Finland. PATIENTS: Adult patients whose chief complaints were sore throats. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: A symptom score that was assigned to each patient according to the total number of certain signs and symptoms that are postulated to increase the probability of group A streptococcal pharyngitis and blood measurements for infection. RESULTS: The highest symptom scores, 3 and 4, were found in 21 patients. These patients had pharyngitis due to group A streptococcus (four patients), group C streptococcus (four patients), group G streptococcus (two patients), group F streptococcus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, influenza A virus, influenza B virus, herpes simplex type 1 virus (two patients), and coxsackie B4 virus. No pathogen could be identified from three of the 21 patients. The C-reactive protein values and the leukocyte counts were raised significantly more often in streptococcal infections than in infections of other origin; the P values were .00016 and .028, respectively. CONCLUSION: Use of a clinical scoring system alone for diagnosis of pharyngitis may lead to improper use of anti-microbial agents. There is a need for accurate microbiologic diagnostic procedures in general practice to determine proper treatment of pharyngitis as well as to test the effect of antibacterial and, in the future, antiviral treatment in respiratory tract infections.

Adult↗

Measuring the quality of care for group A streptococcal pharyngitis in 5 US health plans.

BACKGROUND: There is a high degree of professional consensus that children diagnosed with pharyngitis should only receive antibiotics if they have a positive test for group A streptococcus (GAS). OBJECTIVES: To develop and test the validity of a quality of care performance measure that examines GAS testing rates in children diagnosed with pharyngitis and prescribed an antibiotic. DESIGN: The measure developed examines the annual rate of GAS testing in children aged 2 to 18 years with an episode of pharyngitis who were prescribed antibiotics. The measure was tested for feasibility of implementation and validity in 5 health plans in the United States. Health plan administrative data were used to identify episodes of pharyngitis using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 462, 463, and 034.0. Pharmacy data (National Drug Codes) were used to determine if antibiotics were prescribed for the pharyngitis episode. Laboratory claims data (Current Procedural Terminology codes) were used to determine whether a GAS test was performed. Rates of GAS testing in children with pharyngitis who received antibiotics were calculated for each health plan. Medical record abstractions were performed on a random sample (n = 465) of cases to assess percent agreement with laboratory claims data for GAS testing. Sensitivity of the administrative data for accurately identifying when GAS tests were performed was also assessed. RESULTS: Of the 120 158 children aged 2 to 18 years who had at least 1 episode of pharyngitis during the measurement year, 51 172 (43%) received antibiotics. Group A streptococcal testing rates for patients who were prescribed antibiotics varied widely among the participating health plans (59%-83% of cases; P<.05). Percent agreement between administrative and medical records data for GAS tests was 86%. The sensitivity of the administrative data for accurately identifying when GAS tests were performed was 85%. CONCLUSIONS: This quality measure is feasible to implement at the health plan level and validly assesses GAS testing rates using administrative data. The participating health plans are not performing GAS tests as indicated by current expert practice guidelines in a substantial proportion of cases. Improvements in adhering to these guidelines are warranted given the current levels of antibiotic overuse and antibiotic resistance nationally.

Adolescent↗

The relationship between observations and measures of oral and pharyngeal residue from videofluorography and scintigraphy.

We examined measures of oral and pharyngeal residues from scintigraphic studies and estimates/observations from videofluorographic (modified barium swallow) studies taken on the same day but not concurrently in 16 dysphagic patients of varying etiologies presenting with oral and/or pharyngeal dysphagia. Oral and pharyngeal residuals following the swallow were quantified scintigraphically and were then compared with measures of residuals obtained from the modified barium swallow. Estimates of oral and pharyngeal residues from the modified barium swallows were generated by a trained observer who was blinded to the scintigraphic data. Positive and significant Spearman correlations between oral and pharyngeal residue measures from scintigraphy and observations of oral and pharyngeal residues from modified barium swallows were found. This supports the validity of observations of oral and pharyngeal residues in clinical studies. Limitations of these observations are discussed.

Aged↗

Emerging role of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children with acute pharyngitis.

In order to define the role, the risk factors, and the clinical and laboratory characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in children with pharyngitis, 184 patients with acute non-streptococcal pharyngitis (102 males; median age, 5.33 years) were studied. Acute Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection was demonstrated in 44 (23.9%) patients. A history of recurrent episodes of pharyngitis (defined as at least 3 acute episodes of pharyngitis in the 6 months preceding enrollment) appeared to be the more useful parameter for differentiating Mycoplasma pneumoniae pharyngitis from non-streptococcal non- Mycoplasma pneumoniae pharyngitis ( P<0.05 in multivariate analysis). These data, which highlight the emerging role of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in acute pharyngitis, must be taken into account in the diagnosis and treatment of this clinical manifestation in children.

Acute Disease↗

Epidemiological significance of cutaneous, pharyngeal, and digestive tract colonization by multiresistant Acinetobacter baumannii in ICU patients.

The aim of this prospective study was to assess the relative epidemiological role of digestive tract colonization by Acinetobacter baumannii, in comparison with other body site colonizations, in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). From January to May 1995, axillary, pharyngeal and rectal swabs were taken together within the first 48 h of admission, and then weekly during ICU stay. Seventy-three patients were included, 48 of them (66%) had axillary, pharyngeal, or rectal colonization with A. baumannii, nine (19%) of these 48 during the first 48 h and the remaining 28 (77%) during the first week. Twenty-one (29%) had clinical samples positive for A. baumannii and axillary, pharyngeal, or rectal colonization. In 15 of these 21 (71%), colonization on body sites occurred prior to isolation from clinical samples (mean seven days, range 1-20). Throughout admission, rates of detection of A. baumannii were 75% (36/48) for axillary or pharyngeal swabs and 77% (37/48) for rectal swabs. Combination of two body site swabs yielded culture positive rates of 90% (43/48) for axillary-pharyngeal or axillary-rectal sites, and 96% (46/48) for pharyngeal-rectal. Two epidemic clones were defined by antibiotype and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of SmaI DNA digests in 48 isolates from 11 patients. We conclude that body sites of patients were a major reservoir for A. baumannii infections in the outbreak. This finding cases doubt on the value of selective decontamination of the digestive tract as an additional infection control measure in this kind of outbreak. The weekly performance of pharyngeal and rectal swabs appears to detect A. baumannii colonization early among ICU patients and enables barrier methods to be applied rapidly.

Acinetobacter Infections↗

The action of serotonin and the nematode neuropeptide KSAYMRFamide on the pharyngeal muscle of the parasitic nematode, Ascaris suum.

The pharyngeal component of the enteric nervous system of the parasitic nematode, Ascaris suum exhibits immunoreactivity for serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) and for FMRFamide-like peptides. This paper describes the application of an in vitro pharmacological approach to investigate the functional role of 5-HT and FMRFamide-like peptides. The pharyngeal pumping behaviour of Ascaris suum was monitored using a modified pressure transducer system which measures pharyngeal pressure changes and therefore pumping. The pharynx did not contract spontaneously; however, 5-HT (10-1000 microM) stimulated pumping at a frequency of 0.5 Hz. FMRFamide had no apparent effect on pharyngeal pumping. The native nematode FMRFamide-related peptide (FaRP), KSAYMRFamide inhibited the pumping elicited by 5-HT. The duration of inhibition was dose-dependent (0.1-1000 nM) with a threshold of 0.1 nM. In 4 preparations, the inhibition of the pharyngeal muscle was preceded by an initial excitation and increase in the amplitude of pharyngeal pressure changes. The pharynx is involved in various nematode processes, including feeding, regulation of hydrostatic pressure and excretion. The role of 5-HT and KSAYMRFamide in the pharyngeal function of nematodes is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Prevalence and incidence of pharyngeal gonorrhea in a longitudinal sample of men who have sex with men: the EXPLORE study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of gonorrhea of the pharynx among select samples of men who have sex with men (MSM) ranges from 9% to 15%. To our knowledge, there have been no longitudinal studies in a prospective MSM cohort to estimate pharyngeal gonorrhea incidence or predictors of infection. We examined the prevalence, incidence, and sociodemographic and behavioral predictors of pharyngeal gonorrhea in a cohort of sexually active, human immunodeficiency virus-negative MSM. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of pharyngeal gonorrhea among MSM who were enrolled in a behavioral intervention study to prevent human immunodeficiency virus infection (Project EXPLORE). Participants were enrolled in this ancillary study from March 2001 through July 2003. At baseline and every 6 months thereafter until 31 July 2003, participants were tested for pharyngeal gonorrhea and were administered a questionnaire regarding their oral sex practices. Rectal and urethral gonorrhea testing were also performed. RESULTS: Prevalence of pharyngeal gonorrhea was 5.5% (136 cases diagnosed from 2475 tests). The incidence rate was 11.2 cases per 100 person-years. Pharyngeal gonorrhea was positively associated with younger age and the number of insertive oral sex partners in the past 3 months. Ejaculation did not increase the risk of pharyngeal gonorrhea. Gonorrhea of the pharynx was asymptomatic in 92% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: The pharynx is a common, asymptomatic reservoir for gonorrhea in sexually active MSM.

Gonorrhea↗

Foodborne outbreak of group G streptococcal pharyngitis.

An outbreak of pharyngitis associated with beta-hemolytic streptococci of Lancefield group G occurred among persons who had attended a convention that was held June 21-24, 1979, in a Florida hotel. Seventy-two (31 per cent) of 231 interviewed conventioneers were ill. Group G streptococci were isolated from the throats of 10 (63 per cent) of 16 persons with pharyngitis and 1 (2 per cent) of 41 persons without pharyngitis (p less than 10(-5)). Antistreptolysin O titers in convalescent-phase serum samples from persons with pharyngitis were significantly higher than those from age-matched controls. Fifty-seven (51 per cent) of 111 conventioneers who had attended a convention luncheon developed pharyngitis compared with 12 (10 per cent) of 117 persons who did not (p less than 10(-9)). All persons who had attended the luncheon and had become ill had eaten a chicken salad served at the luncheon. Their median incubation period was two days. The cook who had prepared this chicken salad developed pharyngitis after the luncheon and had a throat culture positive for group G streptococci. No instances of rheumatic fever were identified and secondary illness in household contracts was rare. This outbreak indicates that group G streptococci can cause outbreaks of pharyngitis similar to those caused by group A streptococci and suggests that penicillin therapy and prophylaxis may not be needed.

Animals↗

Role of videoendoscopy in assessment of pharyngeal function in oropharyngeal dysphagia: comparison with videofluoroscopy and manometry.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current report is to evaluate the ability of videoendoscopic swallowing study in assessing pharyngeal propulsion and aspiration episodes when compared with videofluoroscopy and manometry. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. METHODS: Thirty-four patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia underwent videoendoscopy of swallowing to assess pharyngeal propulsion as pathologic or nonpathologic, and aspiration. These features were compared with those found on manometry and videofluoroscopy, which were considered as the reference examinations. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of videoendoscopy were estimated, with their 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: A total agreement between videoendoscopy and videofluoroscopy was found in 76.4% of cases for pharyngeal propulsion and in 82.3% for aspiration. This rate for pharyngeal propulsion reached 82.3% between videoendoscopy and manometry. Moreover, in 24 cases (70.5%) in which videofluoroscopy and manometry agreed for pharyngeal propulsion, 22 were assessed similarly through fiberoscopy. When using fluoroscopy and manometry as reference examinations, videoendoscopy detected nearly 90% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.80, 1.0) of impaired pharyngeal propulsion. Concerning aspiration, 70% (95% CI = 0.54, 0.85) of events detected by videoendoscopy were also observed on videofluoroscopy. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of videoendoscopy reached a higher rate (90% to 92.8%) when agreement was found between fluoroscopy and manometry. CONCLUSIONS: Videoendoscopy is an examination that can be used to detect inexpensively pharyngeal propulsion disorders and aspiration episodes.

Adult↗

Eustachian tube cartilage and medial movement of lateral pharyngeal wall on phonation.

Several authors have demonstrated the importance of medial movement of the lateral pharyngeal wall in velopharyngeal closure upon phonation. However, it remains controversial what muscle is responsible for lateral pharyngeal wall movement and where is the main site of this movement. The purpose of this study was to address the above two unanswered questions. In 22 subjects (12 normal volunteers, 10 patients with cleft palate), lateral pharyngeal wall movement upon phonation was evaluated by using rapid magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Before rapid MRI, their lateral pharyngeal wall movements were classified into three groups: the poor, moderate, and good, according to the findings of nasopharyngoscopy. Inward displacement of the eustachian tube cartilages upon phonation, which was quantified as distance ratio in the transverse plane of MR images, was compared with nasopharyngoscopic findings. In addition, the level of lateral pharyngeal wall movement was observed in the plane 5 mm lateral to the mid-sagittal plane of MR images. Inward displacement of the eustachian tube cartilage in the transverse plane of MR images was coincident with medial movement of lateral pharyngeal wall observed by nasopharyngoscopy in all 22 subjects. By using one-way analysis of variance, a statistically significant correlation was found between nasopharyngoscopic classification and distance ratio. The sagittal plane of MR images revealed that the main site of movement occurred at the level of the hard palate and above. It is concluded that medial movement of the lateral pharyngeal wall consists of inward displacement of the eustachian tube cartilage, which is caused by contraction of the levator veli palatini muscle, and that the primary site of this movement is at the level of the hard palate and above, where the eustachian tube, but not the superior constrictor muscle, exists.

Adolescent↗

Seasonal benzathine penicillin G prophylaxis for recurrent streptococcal pharyngitis in children.

BACKGROUND: To assess the efficacy of benzathine penicillin G (BPG) prophylaxis in recurrent streptococcal pharyngitis in children. METHODS: One hundred and sixty children, aged 4-11 years, who experienced at least two episodes of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) pharyngitis during a 4-month observation period between September and December 1995 were randomly divided into two groups. During the following 4-month period between January and April 1996, 80 children received BPG prophylaxis every 3 weeks as a single intramuscular injection of 1.2 million units for a body weight greater than 27 kg and a half dose for 27 kg or less. Eighty children were accepted as a control group and were not given BPG prophylaxis. RESULTS: The children in the BPG group experienced significantly less GABHS pharyngitis than those in the control group during the second 4-month period (16 vs 244 episodes, respectively, P < 0.001). BPG prophylaxis decreased streptococcal pharyngitis by 92% in the children in the study group, while the frequency of GABHS pharyngitis was unchanged in those in the control group during the second 4-month period compared with the first 4-month period. CONCLUSIONS: The data in the present study demonstrated that intramuscular BPG prophylaxis is very effective in preventing GABHS pharyngitis in children. It is recommended that it is used every 3 weeks in at least the fall-winter seasons in children susceptible to frequent GABHS pharyngitis.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis↗