Combination dermatological products: a comparison of betamethasone dipropionate/clotrimazole/gentamicin sulphate and flumethasone pivalate/clioquinol creams.

The combination creams, betamethasone dipropionate/clotrimazole/gentamicin sulphate and flumethasone pivalate/clioquinol, were compared in patients with corticosteroid responsive dermatoses and/or cutaneous fungal and/or bacterial infections. Medication was applied to affected areas twice daily for 28 days. Of 67 patients enrolled, 31 treated with betamethasone/clotrimazole/gentamicin and 33 given flumethasone pivalate/clioquinol were evaluated for efficacy and safety each week during therapy and once 14 days post-therapy. Disease signs and symptoms were less severe in the group given betamethasone/clotrimazole/gentamicin than in the comparative group at days 7 (P = 0.04), 21 (P = 0.02), 28 (P = 0.09), and 42 (P = 0.09) and at patients' last valid visit (P = 0.06). By the last valid visit, signs/symptoms had improved by 82% for patients treated with betamethasone/clotrimazole/gentamicin versus 68% for those treated with flumethasone pivalate/clioquinol. Patients given betamethasone/clotrimazole/gentamicin had statistically significantly better therapeutic responses than those given flumethasone pivalate/clioquinol at day 7 and, by the last valid visit, 19/31 (61%) patients given betamethasone/clotrimazole/gentamicin compared to 15/33 (45%) given flumethasone pivalate/clioquinol had a complete cure or an excellent therapeutic response. Median time of onset of relief of erythema and pruritus was approximately 2 days, regardless of treatment. No adverse reactions were reported.