Ticarcillin-clavulanate therapy for bacterial skin and soft tissue infections.

Ticarcillin-clavulanate is active in vitro against the vast majority of pathogens involved in skin and soft tissue infections. A compilation of six controlled clinical trials of ticarcillin-clavulanate for treatment of skin infections showed a satisfactory clinical response in 175 (93%) of 189 cases. The bacteriologic response included eradication of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus species, Enterobacteriaceae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 88%, 75%, 88%, and 77% of cases, respectively. In addition, the records of 17 patients with diabetic foot infections who were treated with ticarcillin-clavulanate as monotherapy in controlled trials are reviewed. Eight of these infections were cured and eight were improved at the end of therapy. The available clinical data suggest that ticarcillin-clavulanate is effective antimicrobial therapy for skin infections.