Comparison of Cephalexin Versus Clindamycin for Suspected CA-MRSA Skin Infections

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2009-08-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

The purpose of this study is to help define the role of antibiotics in the treatment of pediatric skin infections caused by community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA). The investigators hypothesize that treatment with cephalexin, a penicillin-like antibiotic to which CA-MRSA would be expected to be resistant, does not result in poorer outcomes than treatment with clindamycin, an antibiotic to which CA-MRSA is most often susceptible.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Aaron Chen
• Collaborators: Johns Hopkins University; Thrasher Research Fund
• Treatments: Cephalexin; Clindamycin; Clindamycin palmitate; Clindamycin phosphate

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children between the ages of 6 months and 18 years of age (inclusive)

• Suspected purulent staphylococcal skin or soft tissue infection

• No hospitalization within the previous 14 days

• Must have reliable means of follow-up contact (e.g. working phone)

• Outpatient management in the judgement of treating physician

Exclusion Criteria:

• Hospitalization on initial visit

• Voluntary withdrawal by the treating physician in order to dictate the antibiotic being used

• Patients with a history of hypersensitivity to or intolerance of cephalexin (or other beta lactams) or clindamycin.

• Patients with altered immunity (inherited or acquired)

• Patients with skin infections related to surgical wounds or hardware.

• Patients currently on antibiotic therapy