Abstract
The clinical outcomes in inpatients with infectious mononucleosis treated with antibiotics and those who did not receive antibiotic therapy were compared to explore the necessity of antibiotic therapy in these patients. The mean duration to subsidence of fever to normal was 4.6 days in the antibiotic-treated group and 3.1 days in the non-antibiotic-treated group; thus, the interval was rather longer in the antibiotic-treated group. During the hospital course, worsening of liver function impairment was noted in 42% of cases in the antibiotic-treated group and 0% of cases in The non-antibiotic-treated group. Exacerbation or development of rash occurred in 17% of cases in the antibiotic-treated group and 0% of cases in the non-antibiotic-treated group. Liver dysfunction and development or exacerbation of rash were noted as adverse events in 58% of cases in the antibiotic-treated group and improved following discontinuation of the antibiotic. It is thus considered advisable that patients with infectious mononucleosis be carefully observed after hospitalization for rest, if feasible, and that the use of antibiotics may only be considered in the presence of a complication requiring antimicrobial chemotherapy,e,g., peritonsillar abscess.
