Bacterial skin infections--an observational study.
BACKGROUND
We aimed to determine the feasibility of measuring resolution rates of bacterial skin infections in general practice.


METHODS
Fifteen general practitioners recruited patients from March 2005 to October 2007 and collected clinical and sociodemographic data at baseline. Patients were followed up at 2 and 6 weeks to assess lesion resolution.


RESULTS
Of 93 recruited participants, 60 (65%) were followed up at 2 and 6 weeks: 50% (30) had boils, 37% (22) had impetigo, 83% (50) were prescribed antibiotics, and active follow up was suggested for 47% (28). Thirty percent (18) and 15% (9) of participants had nonhealed lesions at 2 and 6 weeks respectively. No associations between nonhealing and any modifiable factors investigated were identified. However, indigenous patients were more likely to have nonhealed lesions at 2 weeks and new lesions at 6 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians need to be aware that nonhealing is not infrequent, particularly in indigenous people.
Spurling
Geoffrey
G
Discipline of General Practice, University of Queensland. g.spurling@uq.edu.au
Askew
Deborah
D
King
David
D
Mitchell
Geoffrey K
GK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D044382:Population Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents