Antibiotics for skin infections

Skin infections are some of the most common human diseases. The most common types of skin infections are as follows:

  • viral (herpes simplex, chickenpox, shingles)
  • fungal (candidiasis, tinea pedis, ringworm)
  • bacterial (cellulitis, boils, impetigo)

Antibiotics that can be administered in several methods: topical application, injection, intravenous application or oral use are prescribed for treatment of bacterial skin infections.

In general, antibiotics for skin infections are prescribed given the disease severity, type of infection and its sensitivity to antibiotic, as well as tolerance to a drug.

To treat acute bacterial skin and soft skin structure infections, antibiotic Sivextro available in oral tablets and powder for injections or intravenous use, can be prescribed.

Other effective antibiotics that can be used for treatment of complicated skin infections (including boils, cellulitis, and impetigo) are Vibativ, Dicloxacillin, and Flucloxacillin.

In treatment of staphylococcal infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, like Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes, some of the most effective antibiotics for skin infections are considered Keflex, Teflaro and Amoxil.

Sometimes, antibacterial therapy of infectious diseases of the skin may include combined use of several antibiotics. For example, when treating boils, the patient can be prescribed with injection antibiotic simultaneously with topical antibiotic.

The list of the most effective antibiotics for treatment of bacterial skin infections includes Dicloxacillin, Ancef, Augmentin, Tygacil, and Flucloxacillin.

Treatment of fungal infections of the skin requires regularity and time. Many drugs for treatment of fungal skin infections are manufactured by pharmaceutical companies for oral, parenteral and topical use.

If the patient’s skin is affected by bacterial or fungal infection, the patient can be prescribed with antifungal drug Griseofulvin, Terbinafine, or Voriconazole in addition to antibiotics for skin infections.

Many skin diseases can provoke such viruses as varicella-zoster and herpes simplex. In severe forms of herpes infection, the patient can be prescribed with Zovirax injections or capsules, Valtrex caplets, or Famvir tablets. Treatment of mild herpes sores can be carried out by means of topical antivirals, (e.g., Xerese cream).

Antibiotics are ineffective in treatment of viral skin infections. However, in case of development of bacterial and viral infections simultaneously, drug therapy may include concomitant use of antiviral medicines and antibiotics for skin infections.

It should be noted that not only humans but also animals are exposed to skin infections. For treatment of pyoderma dermatitis, cellulitis, wound infections and abscesses in dogs and cats, tablets Cefa-Tabs or suspension Cefa-Drops are used.

The most effective antibiotics for skin infections in pets may include the following drugs: Clinsol, Antirobe, Amoxi-Tabs, Clavamox, Dicloxin and Baytril.