Erythromycin: a review of its uses in pediatric practice.

Erythromycin continues to be a valuable and useful antimicrobial agent in children. Its low index of toxicity, freedom from sensitization, and reliable absorption and when administered orally contribute to make it an attractive agent in the treatment of a variety of minor respiratory and skin infections, especially in those situations where real or potential allergy to penicillin exists. Additional major uses are in the eradication of the carrier state in whooping cough and in diphtheria, especially in those instances when oral therapy can be tolerated.

Concentrations of erythromycin in serum and tonsil: comparison of the estolate and ethyl succinate suspensions.

Concentrations of erythromycin were measured in serum and tonsil from children who had received either the estolate or ethyl succinate suspension before surgery. The in vitro assay measured total erythromycin activity against a group A beta hemolytic streptococcus. Levels of erythromycin in serum and tonsil after single and multiple doses of the estolate were significantly higher than those after administration of the ethyl succinate.

An outbreak of infectious mononucleosis among the personnel of an outpatient clinic.

During a four-week period, nine current or recent primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections were identified among 29 staff members of an obstetrics and gynecology outpatient clinic of an air force base hospital by EBV-specific serologic tests; i.e., early detection of IgM antibodies to EB viral capsid antigen (VCA), high titers of IgG antibodies to VCA, presence of antibodies to the D (diffuse) component of the EBV-induced early antigen (EA) complex and initial absence and later development of antibodies to the EBV-associated nuclear antigen (EBNA).