title: Antibiotic and prednisolone therapy of erysipelas: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: 112 patients admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of erysipelas, were randomized to 8 days treatment with prednisolone or placebo in addition to antibiotics. 108 patients received the study drugs and were evaluated for time to cure, which was the primary end-point. The median healing time was significantly shorter in the prednisolone group, 5 days, vs 6 days in the placebo group (p < 0.01). The 90th percentile healing time was 10.0 days in the prednisolone group vs 14.6 days in the control group. The prednisolone-treated patients had a median length of hospital stay (secondary end-point) of 5 days vs 6 for the placebo-treated (p < 0.01). The median treatment time with intravenous antibiotics (secondary end-point) was 4 days in the placebo group, which was 1 day longer than in the prednisolone group (p < 0.05). 13 patients, 7 of whom received placebo, relapsed during the observation period of 3 weeks. The frequency of side effects attributable to the study drug was not higher in the prednisolone group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Helsingborg Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Bergkvist
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sjöbeck
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004886:Erysipelas / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010406:Penicillins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000254:growth & development; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D011239:Prednisolone