Combined systemic and topical treatment of disordered tissues

Kits and methods for treating disordered or infected tissue caused by a virus in a mammal involve co-administering a systemic anti-virus drug and topically administered anti-infective composition. The systemic anti-virus drug is internally administered and disrupts or inhibits virus replication systemically within the mammal. Examples include nucleoside analogs, nucleoside analog precursors, and nucleotide analogs. The topically administered anti-infective composition includes at least one anti-infective agent, such as an organohalide (e.g., benzalkonium chloride), and is formulated to penetrate below the skin surface and allow the anti-infective agent to kill viruses at the infected tissue site. The topical anti-infective composition renders the systemic anti-virus drug more efficacious and reduces the time and/or number of dosages otherwise required for the systemic anti-virus drug to treat the disordered tissue. In some cases, the topical anti-infective composition is more beneficial than the systemic anti-virus drug in killing viruses and can reduce or eliminate post-herpetic neuralgia.