Pragmatic Cellulitis Treatment

Adding trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole to cephalexin did not produce superior outcomes in the treatment of uncomplicated cellulitis compared with cephalexin alone.

Physicians ponder the proper treatment for cellulitis. Is the infecting organism Streptococcus or Staphylococcus, and if Staphylococcus, is it a methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain? Cultures are difficult to obtain, and about 70% fail to isolate an infecting organism from blood, needle aspiration, or skin biopsy. To assess the benefit of adding antibiotics targeting community-acquired MRSA to cellulitis therapy, these authors enrolled 146 patients in a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Patients had cellulitis of less than 1-week duration without abscess, diabetes, immunosuppression, peripheral vascular disease, or hospitalization. All received adequate dosage of cephalexin based on weight, and 73 also…

Reviewing Author

Mark V. Dahl, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Ulthera, Inc.; AuBio LifeSciences, LLC; Paris Therapeutics

Equity Elorac, Inc.; Makucell, Inc.; Paris Therapeutics

Editorial boards UpToDate

Leadership positions in professional societiesNational Rosacea Society (Chairman, Medical Board)

Mark V. Dahl, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Ulthera, Inc.; AuBio LifeSciences, LLC; Paris Therapeutics

Equity Elorac, Inc.; Makucell, Inc.; Paris Therapeutics

Editorial boards UpToDate

Leadership positions in professional societiesNational Rosacea Society (Chairman, Medical Board)