Our data showed that 64.1% of the bacteria in the positive
swabs were sensitive to penicillin and 81.3% sensitive to
penicillin and metronidazole. Studies carried out 30e40 years
ago show that penicillin was the most effective antimicrobial
agent in treating head and neck infections.2,11e24 Our study,
along with other recent studies, also confirms this finding. Of
the penicillins, amoxicillin has been widely used over the
years due to its high rate of absorption and thus high concentrations
at sites of acute infection. Metronidazole should
also be added for anaerobes.