Co-trimoxazole for skin and soft tissue infections not responding to conventional oral antibiotics in Hong Kong

摘要

Patients with skin and soft tissue infections which do not respond to conventional oral antibiotic treatments are often referred to the hospital's Emergency Department. These commonly include cases of wound infection and cellulitis, and patients are often hospitalised for intravenous antibiotics. However, when there are no clear signs of systemic infection, especially in immunocompetent or healthy patients, admission may not be necessary if an appropriate trial of antibiotic regime adjustment is given.1,2,3 Although co-trimoxazole would be regarded as an outdated antibiotic by most Hong Kong doctors, there is in fact strong evidence to support its use in this particular clinical context.