In fact, there is absolutely no in vitro resistance of group A streptococci (GAS) to penicillin or amoxicillin (or cephalosporins).Some people have theorized that the inadvertent inclusion of strep carriers in many of the studies explains the eradication failure with penicillin, but that has never made sense to me. "THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Sore throat caused by a virus is not treated with antibiotics but instead may be treated with rest, pain medication, and other therapies aimed at relieving symptoms. 2004;38:1526–34).Traditional antibiotic resistance does not appear to be the reason. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911. Some people have theorized that the inadvertent inclusion of strep carriers in many of the studies explains the eradication failure with penicillin, but that has never made sense to me. Therefore, assuming you took the antibiotics as prescribed, it would be unlikely that this persistent strep throat is due to some sort of "super" strep … Find Primary care doctors near you. Strep throat is a particular kind of pharyngitis that is caused by a bacterium known as group A Streptococcus (GAS). In 2004, Dr. Casey and I conducted two separate meta-analyses demonstrating the clear superiority of cephalosporins—mainly azithromycin and clarithromycin—over penicillin in treating strep throat, both in children (Pediatrics 2004;113:866–82) and adults (Clin. Cephalexin is a good option because it's generic, and it's first-generation, so it is not as broad-spectrum. I've been on three different antibiotics inside of about a month and a half from the initial onset of Other Answers On: Our meta-analyses showed that the failure rate remained pretty much rocksolid at 35%, even when we looked at only the 12 most recent studies that did a fantastic job of excluding carriers.I think the answer lies in considering mechanisms of “resistance” beyond those involving a particular bacterium resisting a particular drug in a test tube. If your strep throat is not getting better, let your health care provider know right away. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the WebMD Site. In fact, there is absolutely no in vitro resistance of group A streptococci (GAS) to penicillin or amoxicillin (or cephalosporins). Hello Doctor, I've recently had a strep throat infection which was confirmed by a throat culture. See a doctor who can help. Infect. Why would such inclusion have increased since the 1950s? Call your healthcare provider if these symptoms occur:American Academy of Family Physicians: "Strep Throat" and "Sore Throat: Easing the Pain of a Sore Throat. Traditional antibiotic resistance does not appear to be the reason. "American Academy of Family Physicians: "Strep Throat" and "Sore Throat: Easing the Pain of a Sore Throat. We prescribe it twice daily for 10 days. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. Do not stop taking your prescribed medicine unless your healthcare provider tells you to. Dis. They found that the pathogens Subsequent to that paper, my laboratory group completed a study in which we confirmed Dr. LaFontaine's finding regarding coaggregation of With coaggregation, the GAS bacteria acquire the ability to attach themselves to the Indeed, coaggregation is a likely explanation for why some children—such as those more frequently colonized with It also helps explain the differential treatment effect of penicillin/amoxicillin versus other antibiotic classes. With the health concerns for antibiotics on the rise, their true effectiveness is in question, and the option to take care of something naturally is a great approach. Dis. In fact, the opposite has happened: Efforts have been made in more recent studies to exclude carriers. Do not stop taking your prescribed medicine unless your healthcare provider tells you to. If your strep throat is not getting better, let your health care provider know right away. 2006;43:1398–406).A second mechanism of in vivo resistance, known as “coaggregation,” was first described in 2004 by Dr. Eric R. LaFontaine and his associates at the University of Toledo (Ohio). It is unusual for strep infections to be resistant to the types of antibiotics that you are taking. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Infect. My colleague Dr. Janet R. Casey and I have published a series of articles over the years documenting this phenomenon, as have other researchers worldwide. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.How is tonsillitis different from a sore throat with a cold? Both Thus, it appears that beta-lactamase production, a well-described mechanism for in vitro antimicrobial resistance, is being enhanced by this additional coaggregation mechanism.Based on this new information, my practice now uses cephalosporins as first-line treatment for strep throat. Strep throat is treated with a course of antibiotics. Apair of newly detected actions of Group A streptococci may offer clues as to why penicillin and amoxicillin often fail to eradicate streptococcal pharyngitis in children and adults, and why cephalosporins or macrolides may be better treatment options.Penicillin failure in eradicating strep throat has been increasingly documented beginning in the 1980s, rising from just 5% in the 1950s to approximately 35% today.