Key practice points:
- Dispensing of topical antibiotics has reduced by around 50% over the last two years; however, there are very few
indications for use and further reductions are possible
- Good skin hygiene measures (e.g. “clean, cut and cover”) and the use of topical antiseptics such as hydrogen peroxide or povidone
iodine are recommended for treating localised or minor skin infections, including impetigo
- If antibiotic treatment is indicated for a skin infection, oral antibiotics are almost always the most appropriate choice
- Topical antibiotics are not required following minor invasive procedures, e.g. removal of benign skin lesions
Over the last few years there has been much focus on the high rates of topical antibiotic use in New Zealand and increasing resistance.
bpacnz most recently addressed this topic in February, 2017 with guidance highlighting
that many patients with mild bacterial skin infections do not require antibiotics and emphasising the problems associated
with topical antibiotic use in New Zealand:
- Increasing resistance leads to ineffective treatment; latest data from 2016 show that approximately 20–50% of
Staphylococcus aureus samples isolated from skin and soft tissue infections are resistant to fusidic acid1
- The use of topical fusidic acid can result in the emergence of Staphylococcus aureus strains which are
also resistant to methicillin;2 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is resistant
to all beta-lactam antibiotics and can cause severe infections and outbreaks in healthcare settings and the community.3
- Increasing resistance to topical fusidic acid threatens the effectiveness of oral formulations of fusidic acid, which
has a role in the treatment of invasive infections of bones and joints
Since 2016, dispensing of topical fusidic acid has dropped by
approximately 42%: from approximately 50,000 dispensings
per quarter in 2016 to 29,000 dispensings in the first quarter of
2018. (Figure 1) Use of topical mupirocin (partially subsidised)
has reduced by 55% since the beginning of 2016. Dispensing
of mupirocin dropped during 2016 due to supply issues,
after which it levelled out at a reduced rate of 8,000–10,000
dispensings per quarter over the last year. N.B. There are
ongoing supply issues with mupirocin. Dispensing of topical
hydrogen peroxide has more than doubled since 2016 and
dispensing of topical iodine is also increasing.
The decrease in dispensing of topical antibiotics is a
positive change and reflects informed prescribing behaviour.
However, there are very few situations in which the use of
topical antibiotics is warranted therefore it is possible for
prescribing rates to be further reduced.
Figure 1: Dispensing of topical antibiotics and antiseptics 2016–20184
N.B. the “dip”
in mupirocin dispensing during 2016 was due to a lack of supply.
Log in if you are a prescriber, to see your personalised and practice
prescribing data related to this article.
Impetigo is typically self-limiting and patients or caregivers can be advised to follow simple skin hygiene
advice; the “clean, cut (nails) and cover” strategy. Topical antiseptics* can be used for small, localised areas of infection
(three or less lesions/clusters) and oral antibiotics considered if infection is more widespread; flucloxacillin is first-line.
If a patient with localised infection has not improved after treatment with topical antiseptics, the lesions remain localised
and an oral antibiotic is not considered appropriate, then topical fusidic acid may be considered.
* subsidised options are hydrogen peroxide cream 1% or povidone-iodine ointment 10%, other options available over-the-counter
“School sores (impetigo)”, information for caregivers:
www.kidshealth.org.nz/school-sores-impetigo
Infected eczema can often be managed by optimising use of topical corticosteroids and emollients.5 Oral
antibiotic treatment can be considered for patients with worsening or severe infection; prescribe an oral antibiotic based
on local resistance patterns with appropriate coverage for Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus
pyogenes (Group A ß haemolytic streptococcus). There is no role for topical antibiotic treatment in patients with
infected eczema.
For further information on managing eczema, see: “Childhood eczema: improving adherence to treatment basics”:
www.bpac.org.nz/2016/childhood-eczema.aspx and
“Topical corticosteroids: clearing up the confusion”: www.bpac.org.nz/2016/topical-corticosteroids.aspx
“Eczema care: 3 easy steps”, information for caregivers:
www.kidshealth.org.nz/eczema-care-3-easy-steps
Other skin and soft tissue infections, such as furuncles, carbuncles or folliculitis typically do not require
topical antibiotic treatment. Furuncles and carbuncles can be treated with incision and drainage. Folliculitis can be
due to bacterial infection but also viral or fungal infection, or sterile folliculitis due to occlusion with adhesive
dressings or emollients. Management should focus on effective skin hygiene, avoiding or treating any underlying cause
and topical antiseptics.6 If the skin lesions are spreading or are in a site associated with complications,
e.g. the face, or patients have fever or co-morbidities which place them at higher risk, e.g. diabetes, an oral antibiotic
such as flucloxacillin can be prescribed. Erythromycin can be used for patients with flucloxacillin allergy. Routine use
of oral antibiotics for uncomplicated abscess does not improve treatment outcomes compared to incision and drainage alone.7
“Boils”, information for caregivers: www.kidshealth.org.nz/boils
Topical antibiotics are not required for preventing infection following minor invasive procedures, e.g.
removal of benign skin lesions. People aged over 75 years have one of the highest rates of topical fusidic acid use in
New Zealand, and it is thought that using topical antibiotics as a preventative measure following the removal of benign
skin lesions contributes to this high use.8, 9
When are topical antibiotics used?
The main clinically appropriate use for topical antibiotics in New Zealand is the eradication of nasal carriage ofS. aureus
in patients with recurrent skin and soft tissue infections, or the eradication of MRSA, with the choice
of topical antibiotic determined by susceptibility testing. However, the initial focus should be on optimising skin hygiene,
e.g. antibacterial washes, avoiding sharing personal care items, and environmental decolonisation, e.g. frequent washing
of linen and cleaning of regularly touched surfaces.
If topical antibiotics are prescribed, include the intended duration of use so this will appear on the
prescription label and prescribe just enough volume for the current condition. Encourage patients to discard the remainder
of any tubes once treatment is completed, rather than keeping an unfinished tube for use on other occasions or by other
household members.
Further reading: two-part series on topical antibiotic use in New Zealand –
“Topical antibiotics for skin infections: should they be prescribed at all”, available from:
www.bpac.org.nz/2017/topical-antibiotics-1.aspx
”Topical antibiotics for skin infections: when are they appropriate?”, available from:
www.bpac.org.nz/2017/topical-antibiotics-2.aspx
Patient information:
“Looking after your child’s skin”: a guide for parents and families, available from:
www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/skin-infections-booklet-nov13v2.pdf
Kids Health skin infection resources, including information on specific conditions and resources in Māori, Samoan and
Tongan languages, available from: www.kidshealth.org.nz/tags/skin
