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Topical antibiotic treatment of impetigo with tetracycline

Shuichi Kuniyuki1, Kazuhito Nakano, Naoki Maekawa

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Osaka City General Hospital, Osaka, Japan.

The Journal of Dermatology
|December 20, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Topical oxytetracycline hydrochloride (tetracycline) effectively treats impetigo in children. This study found topical tetracycline alone to be as effective as a combination of topical and oral antibiotics for impetigo treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Impetigo is a common bacterial skin infection in children.
  • Staphylococcus aureus is a primary causative agent of impetigo.
  • Standard treatment often involves antibiotics, but topical options are being evaluated for efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the effectiveness of topical oxytetracycline hydrochloride (tetracycline) versus a combination of topical tetracycline and oral antibiotics for treating impetigo in children.
  • To evaluate the clinical cure and improvement rates for impetigo with different antibiotic regimens.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, open-labeled trial was conducted with 49 children diagnosed with impetigo.
  • Participants were aged 0.2-13 years and had lesions from which Staphylococcus aureus was isolated.
  • Children received either topical tetracycline or a combination of topical tetracycline and oral antibiotics for one week.

Main Results:

  • After one week, 22 out of 28 patients (78.6%) treated with topical tetracycline achieved clinical cure, with the remaining six improving.
  • In the combination group, 14 out of 21 patients (66.7%) were clinically cured, and 7 improved.
  • No significant differences in clinical outcomes were observed between the two treatment groups.

Conclusions:

  • Topical oxytetracycline hydrochloride (tetracycline) demonstrates significant effectiveness in treating pediatric impetigo.
  • Topical tetracycline monotherapy is a viable and effective treatment option for impetigo, comparable to combination therapy.
  • The study supports the use of topical tetracycline as a primary treatment for impetigo in children.

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