Bacterial eradication rates with shortened courses of 2nd- and 3rd-generation cephalosporins versus 10 days of penicillin for treatment of group A streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis in adults.

In a meta-analysis of 5 randomized controlled trials involving 1030 adults, the likelihood of bacteriologic eradication in the treatment of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GAS) tonsillopharyngitis with 5 days of select cephalosporins (cefpodoxime, cefuroxime, cefotiam, and cefdinir) was noninferior to 10 days of penicillin (odds ratio, 1.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.96-2.22, P = 0.08).