From the FDA Drug Label
Erythrasma: In the treatment of infections due to Corynebacterium minutissimum The recommended treatment for Erythrasma is erythromycin, as it is effective in the treatment of infections due to Corynebacterium minutissimum 1.
- The treatment should be used to treat infections caused by susceptible bacteria.
- It is essential to consider culture and susceptibility information when available to select or modify antibacterial therapy.
From the Research
The recommended treatment for erythrasma is topical mupirocin 2% ointment applied twice daily for 2-4 weeks, as it has been shown to be effective in resolving the infection. This treatment approach is supported by a recent study published in 2020 2, which reported the successful treatment of a patient with erythrasma using topical mupirocin 2% ointment. Additionally, a study published in 2017 3 found that mupirocin 2% ointment monotherapy was effective in treating nine men with erythrasma, with complete resolution of the infection occurring within 2-4 weeks of therapy.
Other treatment options for erythrasma include:
- Topical clindamycin 1% solution applied twice daily for 2-3 weeks
- Oral erythromycin 250mg four times daily for 14 days
- Topical fusidic acid or miconazole cream
- Washing the affected areas with antibacterial soap containing benzoyl peroxide or chlorhexidine as an adjunctive treatment
It is essential to keep the affected areas clean and dry, as Corynebacterium minutissimum, the causative bacterium, thrives in warm, moist environments like skin folds. For recurrent cases, periodic use of antibacterial soaps or occasional application of topical antibiotics in prone areas may prevent recurrence. Erythrasma responds well to these treatments because they target the bacterial production of porphyrins, which are responsible for the characteristic coral-red fluorescence under Wood's lamp examination and the clinical symptoms of the infection. A study published in 2024 4 also highlights the importance of accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, and notes that topical treatments are usually more convenient. Another study published in 2013 5 compared the effectiveness of erythromycin, single-dose clarithromycin, and topical fusidic acid in the treatment of erythrasma, and found that topical fusidic acid was the most effective treatment. However, the most recent and highest quality study 2 supports the use of topical mupirocin 2% ointment as the recommended treatment for erythrasma.