Cutaneous staphylococci: fighting the bacterial resistance in treatment of common inflammatory skin disease

Sergeev A.Y., Burceva G.N., Sergeev V.Y.

1 I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University
2 Central Research Dermatology Clinic, Moscow

Recent studies of human microbiome emphasize the significance of staphylococci for maintaining the skin ecosystem and the role of Staphylococcus aureus in the etiology and pathogenesis of impetigo as well as other common chronic inflammatory dermatoses. Along with certain pathogenicity islands, the determinants of antimicrobial resistance have been found in the genome of Staphylococcus aureus. The issue of antibiotic resistance can be solved not only by introduction of principally new antimicrobial compounds, but also by rational exploitation of topical armamentarium in use, including fusidic acid. The efficiency and safety of topical fusidic acid as well as its low potential for development of bacterial resistance has been proven by years of usage. Our 5-year study on antibacterial susceptibility of cutaneous staphylococci may add evidence to the pool of existing clinical and microbiological data favoring continued use of topical fusidic acid despite the multiple resistance of cutaneous bacteria to other antimicrobials. Cream and ointment with 2% fusidic remain as the treatment of choice for impetigo and secondary infection in certain chronic inflammatory dermatoses.