Regarding topical antibiotics, which of the following statements is not true?
a) Topical antibiotics are well-absorbed into normal, psoriatic or eczematous skin. a) Not True _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Wrong answer ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ b) Prolonged use of topical antibacterial (> 2 weeks) may lead to development of bacterial resistance. b) Not True _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Wrong answer ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ c) Topical antibiotics are not as effective as systemic antibiotics for impetigo. c) Not True _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Correct ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ d) Topical gentamycin may cause cross-resistance with systemic antibiotics. d) Not True _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Wrong answer ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ Answer and Commentary _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ The newer topical antibiotics such as fusidic acid and mupirocin are as effective as systemic antibiotics for impetigo and superficial folliculitis. However, systemic antibiotics should be used when there is widespread disease or accompanied by fever, or if the patient has other concomitant disease or is immuno-compromised. Topical gentamicin can cause resistance with systemic antibiotics, which does not occur with mupirocin or fusidic acid. ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯
