Evaluation of general practitioners' knowledge about diagnostic and therapeuthic management of erysipelas in the city of Marrakech

Erysipelas is the most common non necrotizing bacterial dermohypodermitis (NNBDH). This study aimed to evaluate the adequacy of general practitioners' knowledge about literature data on the diagnostic and therapeuthic management of erysipelas. We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical survey of 167 general practitioners in the public and private sectors in Marrakech over the period from 19 May to 20 October 2014. The 114 questionnaires which had been returned revealed that local and general risk factors were often reported for erysipelas. 92 (80.7%) physicians thought that positive diagnosis of common types was based on clinical examination. 97(85.1%) physicians thought that it required only out-patient service and that hospitalization and para-clinical examinations should only be performed in patients with severe, atypical or complicated erysipelas. 25 (21.9%) physicians thought that oral amoxicillin should be the gold standard therapy. 15(13.2%) physicians thought that bi-antibiotic therapy including antistreptococcique molecule should be the gold standard. 16 doctors (14%) advocated anti-inflammatory drugs. The primary and secondary prevention levels generated interest from physicians of whom 108 (94.7%) were favorable to the treatment of the portals of entry in the skin while 53 (46.5%) to the antibioprophylaxis after the second recurrence. Our study highlights that erysipelas is relatively frequent in city medical practice; clinical diagnosis guidelines should be shared between the specialists in order to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic approch of our physicians.