[Ciprofloxacin treatment in bacterial skin infections].

In a controlled bacteriological study, the effectiveness and tolerance of ciprofloxacin was investigated in 61 patients with extensive bacterial skin infections. The pathogens found, all of which were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, were, for the most part, Staphylococcus aureus and hemolytic streptococci. Ciprofloxacin was administered at a daily oral dose of 2 x 500 mg for an average of 12 days. Primary elimination of the pathogen was achieved in 96 per cent of the patients, in 4 per cent there was a marked reduction in in vitro pathogen growth. Clinical healing or improvement was observed in 98.3 per cent of the patients. Treatment with ciprofloxacin was very well tolerated. No changes in the laboratory parameters, blood count, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, urea, SGOT, SGPT or urinary status were observed. By way of undesired side effects, transient diarrhea occurred in only a single patient. The results of this study demonstrate the considerable therapeutic value of ciprofloxacin in the treatment of bacterial skin infections.