ROLE OF BENZATHINE PENICILLIN-G IN PROPHYLAXIS FOR RECURRENT STREPTOCOCCAL CELLULITIS OF THE LOWER LEGS

Cellulitis of the lower leg is an infection caused by streptococci or, less commonly, Staphylococcus aureus and other gram-negative rods. Re currence of cellulitis is a common problem, In the present study, we e valuated the use of monthly intramuscular injections of benzathine pen icillin G to prevent recurrences of cellulitis. A total of 115 patient s with definite or presumptive cases of streptococcal cellulitis were enrolled in this study. Eighty-four of these patients who declined fol low-up or received incomplete prophylaxis were considered controls. Re currence occurred in four (12.9%) of 31 cases who received prophylaxis and 16 (19%) of the 84 cases who did not receive prophylaxis. The dif ference was not statistically significant. Predisposing factors for ce llulitis were found in 57 (49.6%) of the 115 enrolled cases and were m ostly related to the impairment of local circulation. Administration o f prophylaxis successfully reduced the recurrence rate to zero among p atients without predisposing factors but failed to prevent recurrence in those with predisposing factors (20%). We conclude that monthly ben zathine penicillin G prophylaxis benefits only patients without predis posing factors for cellulitis.