Streptococcal Bacteriostatic Antibody in Patients Treated with Penicillin.

Abstract

Conclusions(1) The administration of penicillin to patients with streptococcal pharyngitis depresses the formation of type-specific antibacterial antibody. (2) There is a relation between the dose and route of administration of penicillin and the degree to which antibacterial activity develops. (3) Suppression of antibody formation by penicillin is probably due to rapid removal of the antigenic focus. (4) Failure to develop type-specific antibacterial antibody for the Streptococcus following penicillin therapy increases the risk of subsequent infection by homologous serological types.