COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF BETAMETHASONE CLIOQUINOL (BETNOVATE-C) CREAM AND BETAMETHASONE FUSIDIC ACID (FUCIBET) CREAM IN THE TREATMENT OF INFECTED HAND ECZEMA/

The efficacy, tolerability and acceptability of betamethasone valerate 0.1%/fusidic acid 2% cream and betamethasone valerate 0.1%/clioquinol 3% cream were compared in 120 patients of either sex, aged 18 years o r over, with a clinical diagnosis of infected hand eczema. Both creams were applied twice daily for up to 4 weeks. Assessments were made by the investigator and by the patient at baseline and at 1, 2 and 4 week s. Swabs were taken for bacteriological culture at baseline and at the end of treatment. Overall, both creams were similarly effective clini cally, with 57.9% of patients given betamethasone/clioquinol and 60.4% of patients given betamethasone/fusidic acid responding (NS; 95% conf idence interval for difference -16.1, 21.2). However, betamethasone/fu sidic acid cream gave a significantly better bacteriological response (P < 0.005). Both treatments were well tolerated. Betamethasone/fusidi c acid cream was considered by the patients to be a significantly more cosmetically acceptable treatment (P < 0.0001).