Prevention of chronic furunculosis with low-dose azithromycin.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Chronic furunculosis is a recurrent staphylococcal abscess of the hair follicle. Besides ensuring personal hygiene, the management consists of long-term treatment with topical and systemic antibiotics.

OBJECTIVE:

An open-labeled, prospective study was conducted to assess the clinical and in vitro efficacy of azithromycin in the long-term suppressive treatment of chronic furunculosis.

METHODS:

Patients with a history of three or more episodes of furuncles were assigned to receive 12 weeks of suppressive treatment with azithromycin at a weekly dosage of 500 mg. In vitro susceptibility of azithromycin was evaluated with E-test. The primary efficacy parameter was complete absence of furuncles during the 3 months of azithromycin treatment. The secondary efficacy parameter was further absence of furuncles during the 3-month follow-up period.

RESULTS:

At the end of 3 months of therapy, azithromycin was found to be effective in 19 (79.2%) of 24 patients; 18 of these patients remained in remission during the 3 months of follow-up. All of the strains were methicillin-sensitive. The results of the E-test showed that 15 of 18 strains (83.3%) were susceptible to azithromycin.

CONCLUSION:

The results of this study indicate that azithromycin is an effective and safe alternative in the treatment of chronic furunculosis caused by methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus.

• Authors: Arya Aminzadeh, Zeynep Demircay, Kerem Ocak, Guner Soyletir
• Journal: The Journal of dermatological treatment (J Dermatolog Treat) Vol. 18 Issue 2 Pg. 105-8 ( 2007) ISSN: 0954-6634 [Print] England
• PMID: 17520467 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Azithromycin

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Azithromycin (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Chronic Disease
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Furunculosis (drug therapy, microbiology, pathology)
• Humans
• Male
• Methicillin Resistance
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Severity of Illness Index
• Staphylococcus aureus (drug effects)
• Treatment Outcome