Health
Antibiotics unnecessary for minor childhood skin infections
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 15, 2004
Draining and wound packing is sufficient to cure small boils in children, and antibiotics are not needed, according to a study published in the February Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.
Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas studied 69 children presenting with minor skin infections who tested positive for non-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Nearly all were given antibiotics, although subsequent testing later showed that the bacteria were resistant to the one prescribed. Most also had their wound drained, and two-thirds had their wound bandaged. About a third were later given an antibiotic believed to be effective against their infection.
No differences were observed in children in relation to the antibiotic given.
"We were surprised," said R. Doug Hardy, MD, senior author on the paper and assistant professor of internal medicine and pediatrics at UT Southwestern. "What we found is that if a physician adequately drains the abscess, it will most likely get better with or without effective antibiotics."
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/03/15/hlbf0315.htm.
