Cyclic intravenous therapy with intravenous antibiotics for prevention of recurrent erysipelas

The treatment of choice for prevention of recurrent erysipelas is the long- term therapy with intramuscular penicillin.The results are often unsatisfac tory. Usually erysipelas recurs when the treatment is stopped.The aim of th e present study was to evaluate a new treatment regimen,consisting of intra venous penicillin combined with lymphatic drainage. Fifteen patients who ha d suffered from three or more episodes of erysipelas within the last two ye ars received 10 Mega I.U. of penicillin per day over ten days every third m onth over a one year period (patients who were allergic to penicillin recei ved erythromycin). Use of intravenous penicillin was combined with lymphati c drainage performed by a sequential pneumatic compressing device.The treat ment results were assessed by clinical examination and laboratory tests as well as by laser Doppler imaging every third month. During the one year tre atment period and a further year of follow-up, 14 of 15 patients had no rec urrent erysipelas. Only a 65 year old patient suffering from Parkinson hear t failure, chronic lymphedema and an extensive stasis ulcers had recurrent erysipelas.The present treatment regimen appears to be an effective therapy for prevention of recurrent erysipelas.