ABSTRACT
A successful abbreviated treatment course depends on several mandatory factors, such as the patient, pathogen, infection site, and therapeutic agent, as well as the requirement that the host be fully immunocompetent so he or she can be cured with short courses of therapy. Therapy of group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis is intended to prevent both suppurative and nonsuppurative complications. By 1953, the American Heart Association recommended treatment of GAS pharyngitis with oral penicillin for 10 days. The objective of treating acute otitis media is achieving rapid clinical relief and preventing complications such as mastoiditis, meningitis, and jugular vein thrombosis. Acute bacterial sinusitis is a common upper respiratory tract infection, with an estimated 20 million cases reported in the United States annually. Approximately 5% of Americans in their middle and late years have chronic bronchitis, which predisposes them to frequent episodes of bronchitis. Acute infectious exacerbation of chronic obstructive broncho-pulmonary disease contributes considerably to morbidity and mortality in this population.
