Prophylaxis for Leg Cellulitis

Patients with leg cellulitis who received prophylactic penicillin had fewer recurrences than those given placebo, without increases in adverse effects.

Leg cellulitis is common and often recurrent. Does continuous treatment with phenoxymethylpenicillin 250 mg twice daily prevent recurrence? To answer this question, investigators enrolled 274 subjects with recurrent cellulitis seen at 28 hospitals in the U.K. and Ireland into a 36-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of this prophylactic low-dose penicillin. Eligible patients had had a recurrent episode of leg cellulitis within 24 weeks of the enrollment date and at least two other episodes of leg cellulitis within the previous 3 years. The primary outcome was time from randomization to first recurrence.

Median time to first confirmed recurrence was 626 days in the phenoxymethylpenicillin group versus 532 days in the pla…

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)