The Treatment of Pyoderma in Children

Three therapeutic agents were compared in the treatment of 209 children with superficial pyoderma. Patients were given benzathine penicillin G and procaine penicillin G intramuscularly, gentamicin sulfate (Garamycin) topically, or an ointment containing a mixture of antibiotics (Neosporin) topically. In the initial skin culture, 27.2% of the patients had β-hemolytic streptococci, 37.3% had staphylococci, and 35.3% had both organisms present. At one week follow-up, penicillin treatment resulted in a complete bacteriologic cure of patients with streptococci alone, or streptococci and staphylococci combined. Neosporin ointment was less effective than penicillin and gentamicin was the least effective of the three. Staphylococcal pyoderma responded equally well to all three preparations. Despite the absence of glomerulonephritis, we suggest that streptococcal pyoderma be treated with systemic antibiotic therapy to avoid the complication of renal disease.