From the Guidelines
You should contact your healthcare provider immediately to confirm your appointment status or schedule a new one, as spreading skin infections require prompt medical attention and can worsen quickly. Since you mention the infection is spreading, it's essential to seek medical help as soon as possible. According to the practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft tissue infections by the Infectious Diseases Society of America 1, typical cases of cellulitis without systemic signs of infection should receive an antimicrobial agent that is active against streptococci.
- Key considerations for your treatment plan include:
- The recommended duration of antimicrobial therapy is 5 days, but treatment should be extended if the infection has not improved within this time period 1
- Elevation of the affected area and treatment of predisposing factors, such as edema or underlying cutaneous disorders, are recommended 1
- Outpatient therapy is recommended for patients who do not have SIRS, altered mental status, or hemodynamic instability 1 In the meantime, keep the area clean with gentle soap and water, avoid scratching, and consider covering it with a sterile bandage. Your doctor may prescribe topical antibiotics like mupirocin, oral antibiotics such as cephalexin or clindamycin, or other treatments depending on the specific type of infection. Skin infections spread when bacteria multiply unchecked, potentially leading to more serious conditions if left untreated. Please call your healthcare provider's office today to clarify your treatment plan.
From the FDA Drug Label
For the following infections, a dosage of 500 mg may be administered every 12 hours: streptococcal pharyngitis, skin and skin structure infections, and uncomplicated cystitis in patients over 15 years of age. Skin and skin structure infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and/or Streptococcus pyogenes The treatment schedule for skin and skin structure infections is typically 500 mg every 12 hours, but the duration of treatment is not explicitly stated for this specific condition in the provided drug labels 2 2.
- The drug label does provide guidance on the dosage, but not on the exact duration for skin infections.
- It is crucial to follow the prescribed treatment plan and consult a healthcare professional for further guidance, as they can assess the infection's severity and recommend the best course of action.
From the Research
Skin Infection Treatment
- The provided studies do not directly address the user's question about their skin infection treatment schedule 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
- However, some studies discuss the treatment of skin and soft-tissue infections, such as the use of cephalexin 3, 5, 6.
- Cephalexin is shown to be an effective antibiotic for the treatment of streptococcal and staphylococcal skin infections, with cure rates of 90% or higher 3.
- Another study compares doxycycline and cephalexin for the treatment of presumed streptococcal skin and soft tissue infection, finding similar clinical failure rates between the two antibiotics 5.
Antibiotic Treatment Duration
- A study suggests that shorter durations of antibiotic treatment may be effective for common infections, including skin and soft-tissue infections 7.
- This study summarizes recent randomized controlled trials investigating antibiotic short courses for common infections in adult patients, finding noninferiority of short-course therapy for several conditions 7.