ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the background and available evidence for the use of shorter course antibiotic therapy (SCAT) for selected infectious diseases. Effective use of SCAT should decrease the number and amount of antibiotics prescribed, improve outcomes, particularly in terms of better adherence, and reduce adverse effects, complications, and selection of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The literature on SCAT for tonsillopharyngitis is difficult to interpret, due to differences in study design, adherence issues, and inconsistent endpoints. Bacteriologic eradication and clinical success rates were equivalent, but there were three cases of rheumatic fever and one of acute glomerulonephritis in the SCAT group versus one patient with acute glomerulonephritis in the 10-day group. SCAT may be possible and should be studied in patients with no underlying diseases who are currently treated as outpatients and those who are younger or have a prompt response to initial therapy.
