Skin and soft tissue antibiotics

Erysipelas

Coverage for S. pyogenes

  • Penicillin G 300K U/d IM for <30 kg, 600K to 1 million U/d IM for >30 kg (first line therapy[1]) OR
  • Clindamycin 450mg (5mg/kg) PO q8hrs x 10 days (if PCN allergic) OR
  • Cephalexin 500mg (6.25mg/kg) PO q6hrs x 10 days OR
  • Ceftriaxone 1g (50mg/kg) IV once daily x 10 days OR
  • Levofloxacin 500mg PO/IV daily x 10 days OR
  • Augmentin 500mg PO BID x 10 days (generally reserved for failure of first line therapy)

Bullous Erysipela or MRSA suspected: trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, clindamycin, doxycycline, or minocycline

Cellulitis/Superficial Abscess with Cellulitis

Tailor antibiotics by regional antibiogram[2]

Outpatient

Coverage primarily for Strep

MRSA coverage only necessary if cellulitis associated with: purulence, penetrating trauma, known MRSA colonization, IV drug use, or SIRS[3]

  • 5 day treatment duration, unless symptoms do not improve within that timeframe[3]
    • Cephalexin 500mg PO q6hrs OR
      • Add TMP/SMX DS 1 tab PO BID[4] if MRSA is suspected
      • Most cases of non-purulent cellulitis are caused by Strep. In these cases, the addition of TMP/SMX has been demonstrated to offer no clinical benefit over cephalexin alone.[5]
    • Clindamycin 450mg PO TID covers both Strep and Staph
    • Tetracyclines (like Doxycycline) should be avoided in non-purulent cellulitis due to high rates of Strep resistance[6]

Inpatient

Saltwater related cellulitis

coverage extended for Vibrio vulnificus

Freshwater related cellulitis

coverage extended for Aeromonas sp

Impetigo

Coverage for MSSA, MRSA, Group A Strep

Topical therapy

  • Mupirocin (Bactroban) 2% ointment q8hrs x 5 days
    • For nonbullous impetigo, topic antibiotics are as effective as oral antibiotics

Oral Therapy

Mastitis

  • No need to routinely interrupt breastfeeding with puerperal mastitis.
  • For mild symptoms <24 hours, supportive care may be sufficient[7]
    • Effective milk removal (frequent breast feeding - use pumping to augment milk removal)
    • Analgesia (NSAIDs)

Treatment directed at S. aureus and Strep and E. coli

See Also

Antibiotics by diagnosis

For antibiotics by organism see Microbiology (Main)

References

  1. Linke M, Booken N. Risk factors associated with a reduced response in the treatment of erysipelas. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2015 Mar;13(3):217-25.
  2. Stevens D, et al. Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft tissue infections: 2014 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2014;59(2):e10-e52
  3. 3.0 3.1 Stevens D, et al. Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft tissue infections: 2014 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2014;59(2):e10-e52
  4. Cadena J, et al. Dose of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole to treat skin and skin structure infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy 55.12 (2011): 5430-5432.
  5. Pallin D, et al. Clinical trial: comparative effectiveness of cephalexin plus trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole versus cephalexin alone for treatment of uncomplicated cellulitis: a randomized controlled trial. Clinical infectious diseases 56.12 (2013): 1754-1762
  6. Traub, W and Leonhard, B. Comparative susceptibility of clinical group A, B, C, F, and G beta-hemolytic streptococcal isolates to 24 antimicrobial drugs. Chemotherapy 43.1 (1997):10-20.
  7. Amir LH. ABM Clinical Protocol #4: Mastitis, Revised March 2014. Breastfeeding Medicine. 2014;9(5):239-243. doi:10.1089/bfm.2014.9984.
  8. Levine BL. 2011 EMRA Antibiotic Guide. EMRA. Pg 78.