Comparison of penicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in the treatment of ear, nose and throat infections.

A double-blind trial of penicillin and the combination trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was undertaken in adult patients with active infection of the ears, nose or throat. The results indicated that the drug trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was as effective as penicillin in achieving clinical improvement and showed a broader spectrum than penicillin the the elimination of pathogenic organisms. The difficulties in obtaining positive cultures that were reflective of the clinical condition are described.