Therapy with Newer Oral β-Lactam and Quinolone Agents for Infections of the Skin and Skin Structures: A Review

Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cefuroxime axetil, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin are each effective against many bacteria that cause infections in the skin and skin structures. Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid is potent against staphylococci, streptococci (including enterococci), and anaerobes, although adverse gastrointestinal reactions are common. Cefuroxime axetil is similarly effective yet is used only rarely because of its more common use in infections of the respiratory tract and the prevalent use of second-generation cephalosporins in surgical prophylaxis. The newer quinolones ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin are effective against staphylococci, Enterobacteriaceae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and exhibit only low toxicity; these agents have been used in many difficult tissue infections—notably, chronic infected ulcers in diabetic patients. Oral antimicrobial therapy, when chosen on the basis of culture and susceptibility results and combined with surgical debridement and local management, may be effective for many problematic infections of the skin and skin structures heretofore treated with parenteral antibiotics.