treatment of superficial skin infection antibiotics

Question 1

what factors compromise the skin’s protective functions?

Answer 1

increases in temperature
humidity
disruption in the intactness of the skin
antibiotic therapy.

Question 2

what topical antibiotics can be used for mild skin infections?

Answer 2

Topical antibiotics (mupirocin, retapamulin, fusidic acid, metronidazole,
erythromycin) can be prescribed for mild skin infections, however their use
must be kept to a minimum so at to prevent resistant bacteria developing

Question 3

what antibiotics are used in impetigo?

Answer 3

oral cephalexin (every 6 hours) for 5 days.
oral flucloxacillin (every 6 hours) for 5 days can be prescribed.
In the event of a penicillin allergy, an oral macrolide e.g. azithromycin for 3
days can be prescribed. In the instance here improvement is noticed but the
infection is not completely cured, a second 5-day course of antibiotics can be
implemented. When there is no improvement, the patient must be referred

Question 4

erysipelas antibiotics?

Answer 4

Treatment should be from 5 – 10 days
depending on the clinical response observed. Treatment options include IV
cloxacillin initially and with improvement in the condition, oral flucloxacillin. In
the event of a severe penicillin allergy, IV clindamycin can be given and with
improvement in the condition, oral clindamycin. In the event of a MRSA
infection, oral linezolid or IV vancomycin can be prescribed

Question 5

folliculitis, furuncle, carbuncle, cellulitis?

Answer 5

folliculitis: topic agents
cellulitis, furuncle and carbuncle: same agents as impetigo and erysipelas

Question 6

rosacea

Answer 6

Treatment options will be based on
the severity and type of rosacea. Topical metronidazole or erythromycin as
well as oral tetracyclines (severe cases) may be considered

Question 7

acnes

Answer 7

Treatment options will depend on
the severity of the acne. For inflammatory acne, topical erythromycin or
clindamycin can be prescribed, however treatment may lead to increased
risk of resistance and sensitivity reactions. For moderate to severe acne,
oral antibiotics can be prescribed (doxycycline (preferred) or erythromycin)
depending on patient response and tolerance. Treatment can last for
months to years (pulsed at 3-4 month periods) as the response to treatment
is relatively slow. Initial treatment for the first month is at a full dose
followed by a reduced dosage for maintenance therapy