Efficacy of 5% permethrin-2% fusidic acid cream compared to 5% permethrin-placebo in the treatment of impetiginized scabies
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Published:2022-06-30
Issue:06
Volume:16
Page:1045-1054
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ISSN:1972-2680
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Container-title:The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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language:
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Short-container-title:J Infect Dev Ctries
Author:
Marina Aninda,Menaldi Sri Linuwih,Novianto Endi,Widaty Sandra
Abstract
Introduction: Scabies is caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis, often causing secondary bacterial infections, especially by Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. Permethrin 5% cream is the first-line of treatment that is recommended, combined with Fusidic acid 2% cream as the first-line topical antibiotic. We investigated the efficacy of a combination of permethrin 5% cream and fusidic acid 2% cream for the treatment of impetiginized scabies.
Methodology: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial was organized at two Islamic boarding schools in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. Forty subjects were randomly allocated into the intervention group (permethrin 5% and fusidic acid 2%; n = 20), and the control group (permethrin 5% and placebo; n = 20). Treatment efficacy was determined through the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pruritus and pain, and by examining bacterial cultures.
Results: Treatment efficacy in the intervention group was higher than in the control group on day 7 (80% vs. 35%) and day 14 (95% vs 35%, p ≤ 0.001, RR 2.714) with decreasing VAS for pruritus (p = 0.04) and pain (p = 0.035). The most common bacterium was Staphylococcus aureus. Some minor adverse effects such as itch and heat occurred temporarily.
Conclusions: Treating impetiginized scabies with permethrin 5% and fusidic acid 2% cream is more effective than treating with only 5% premethrin. The most common bacterium causing secondary infection in impetiginized scabies is Staphylococcus aureus.
Publisher
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Subject
Virology,Infectious Diseases,General Medicine,Microbiology,Parasitology