Empirical antibiotic therapy of complicated skin and soft tissue infections in dermatological practice

Abstract

Erysipelas is an acute bacterial infection of the skin predominantly caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. According to the international classification complicated erysipelas belongs to the complicated skin and soft tissue infections. Complicated infections are defined as severe skin involvement or when the infection occurs in compromised hosts. These infections frequently involve Gram-negative bacilli and anaerobic bacteria. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of the empirical antibiotic therapy for the patients who were admitted to the Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged. The empirical therapy was started according to a previously determined protocol. The data of 158 patients with complicated skin and soft tissue infections were analyzed and the microbiology culture specimens and the isolates were also examined. The results show that penicillin is the first choice for the treatment of erysipelas. However, the complicated skin and soft tissue infections require broad-spectrum antibiotics.