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Evidence summaries

Antibiotics for Erysipeloid

Erysipeloid might possibly be treated with penicillin (2-3 million IU/day for 7-10 days), cephalosporins, or ciprofloxacin, although there is no evidence from controlled trials. Level of evidence: "D"

There are no randomised trials of the treatment of erysipeloid. Spontaneous healing occurs within 2 weeks. Penicillins and cephalosporins may have a beneficial effect within a couple of days 1. Macrolides can also be used 2. In the study of Venditti et al 2 the MICs of 10 isolated strains were < 0.01 µg/ml for penicillin and imipenem, between < 0.001 and 0.03 µg/ml for cephotaxim, and between < 0.01 and 0.06 µg/ml for ciprofloxacin. The isolated strains were resistent to netilmycin and vancomycin.

    References

    • Veraldi S, Girgenti V, Dassoni F et al. Erysipeloid: a review. Clin Exp Dermatol 2009;34(8):859-62. [PubMed]
    • Venditti M, Gelfusa V, Tarasi A, Brandimarte C, Serra P. Antimicrobial susceptibilities of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1990 Oct;34(10):2038-40. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords