Table 3.

Select outpatient antibiotic options for bacterial skin and soft tissue infections^20,75

Indication	Medication	Dosage	Comments
Impetigo
Adult	Dicloxacillin	250 mg, PO, 4× daily
	Cephalexin	250 mg, PO, 4× daily
	Clindamycin	300-400 mg, PO, 3× daily
	Erythromycin	250 mg, PO, 4× daily	Some Staphylococcus and Streptococcus strains may be resistant
	Mupirocin 2% ointment	Apply 3× daily	For areas of limited involvement
Children	Dicloxacillin	12 mg/kg/d, PO, 4 divided doses
	Cephalexin	25 mg/kg/d, PO, 4 divided doses
	Clindamycin	10-20 mg/kg/d, PO, 3 divided doses
	Erythromycin	40 mg/kg/d, PO, 4 divided doses	Some Staphylococcus and Streptococcus strains may be resistant
	Mupirocin 2% ointment	Apply 3× daily	For areas of limited involvement
Skin and soft tissue infection: MSSA
Adult	Dicloxacillin	500 mg, PO, 4× daily
	Cephalexin	500 mg, PO, 4× daily
	Doxycycline	100 mg, PO, 2× daily
	Clindamycin	300-450 mg, PO, 3× daily
Children	Dicloxacillin	25 mg/kg/d, PO, 4 divided doses
	Cephalexin	25 mg/kg/d, PO, 4 divided doses
	Clindamycin	10-20 mg/kg/d, PO, 3 divided doses
Skin and soft tissue infection: MRSA
Adult	Doxycycline	100 mg, PO, 2× daily
	Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole	1 or 2 double-strength tablets, PO, 2× daily
	Clindamycin	300-450 mg, PO, 3× daily	Possible cross-resistance and emergence of resistance in erythromycin-resistant strains, and possible inducible MRSA resistance
	Linezolid	600 mg, PO, 2× daily
	Mupirocin 2% cream	Apply 3× daily	For folliculitis with an area of limited involvement
Children	Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole	8-12 mg/kg/d, PO, 2 divided doses
	Clindamycin	10-20 mg/kg/d, PO, 3 divided doses	Possible cross-resistance and emergence of resistance in erythromycin-resistant strains, and possible inducible MRSA resistance
	Linezolid	10 mg/kg/d, PO, 2 divided doses
	Mupirocin 2% cream	Apply 3× daily	For folliculitis with an area of limited involvement

MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; MSSA, methicillin-susceptible S. aureus; PO, orally.