Comparative efficacy and tolerance of erythromycin and josamycin in the prevention of bacteraemia following dental extraction.

The tolerance and pharmacokinetics of erythromycin stearate and josamycin base were compared in healthy dental students. The efficacy and tolerance of the two antibiotics were compared in the prevention of bacteraemia following dental extraction. Erythromycin achieved higher serum levels at the time of extraction in dental patients than did josamycin. Erythromycin was rapidly and better absorbed than josamycin in the student volunteers, but josamycin caused less gastrointestinal side effects than erythromycin. Both antibiotics were only marginally more effective than placebo in preventing bacteraemia following dental extraction.