Antibiotic therapy for Arcanobacterium haemolyticum pharyngitis and tonsillitis

Arcanobacterium haemolyticum (formerly Corynebacterium haemolyticum) is an uncommon cause of pharyngitis and tonsillitis, and occurs mainly in patients aged 10 to 24 years. If A. haemolyticum is identified on throat swab culture and the patient remains symptomatic after empirical treatment for streptococcal infection, consider treatment with azithromycin or erythromycin. The dosage and duration of treatment are not well established; a reasonable regimen is:

1azithromycin 500 mg (child: 12 mg/kg up to 500 mg) orally, daily for 5 days azithromycin azithromycin azithromycin

OR

1erythromycin (base) 500 mg (child 20 to 34 kg: 250 mg; 35 kg and over: 500 mg) orally, 6-hourly for 10 days. For dosage adjustment in adults with kidney impairment, see erythromycin dosage adjustment. erythromycin erythromycin erythromycin

If an oral liquid formulation of erythromycin is required for children, a reasonable regimen is:

erythromycin (ethyl succinate) (child 1 month or older) 20 mg/kg up to 800 mg orally, 6-hourly for 10 days. erythromycin erythromycin erythromycin