The efficacy of oral penicillin in children by blood level determination

Penicillin is still one of the most useful antibiotics in children. Fortunately, allergic reactions to penicillin in children are neither serious nor alarming. As it is still the drug of choice for prolonged prophylaxis and therapy in such infections as recurrent tonsillitis, recurrent oropharyngitis and rheumatic fever, the authors have welcomed the introduction of a new oral penicillin, phenoxymethyl penicillin (Pen-Vee K)Its use in 40 children with respiratory infections or other infections known to be susceptible to penicillin is reported. These studies were supported by cultures and by a new method of determining antibiotic levels using only as little as 2.5 ul of serum per determination. Our results so far are encouraging. (Summary)