Abstract

Despite limited evidence on clinical efficacy and increasing resistance problems, topical antibiotics are still used in everyday clinical practice. However, topical antiseptic agents such, as octenidine and polyhexanide, often have a broader efficacy spectrum. They also have a broader target tropism because of their non-specific cellular mechanisms of action. Repeated use of topical antibiotics also carries the risk of contact sensitization, which could limit potential subsequent use as systemic antibiotics. Contact allergy is a clinically relevant problem, particularly in patients with barrier-damaged skin, pre-existing dermatosis, or occupational exposure. It can be concluded that with the use of modern antiseptics, topical antibiotic therapy is rarely indicated and should be avoided, not only because of the risk of contact sensitization but also because of the unfavorable and potentially consequential resistance problem.

Author Details

Authors

• Burkhard Kreft
• Johannes Wohlrab

Departments

• University Hospital Halle (Saale), Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany

Address

Burkhard Kreft, MD, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Martin Luther University HalleWittenberg, Ernst-Grube-Str. 40, D-06120 Halle (Saale)
Email: [email protected]

Citation