Friday Facts #11 Infected atopic dermatitis

• When the conventional treatment of acute atopic eczema does not respond as it should to conventional topical treament with emollients and topical steroids, the possibilty of a complicating infection needs consideration.

• Bacterial infection of atopic eczema is most commonly due to staphylococcus aureus. The inflammation that accompanies an infection can be associated with an increase in itching, together with a weeping wetness and crusting (see above).

• The source of the infection may be the nose, carried to the skin by the finger and scratching: swabs from the nose and the eczema are taken, to identify the germ and its sensitivity to antibiotics.

• Although antibiotic treatment as a cream can be effective, hypersensitivity reactions to topical antibiotics are notorious, and this further delays healing.

• Therefore taking a course of antibiotics by mouth may be preferable. When taking a course of antibiotics it is important always to finish the course, even if the infection seems to clear up early on.

Bacterial infection is a common complication frustrating the successful treatment of acute eczema



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