Background: The skin of patients with atopic dermatitis is colonized with Staphylococcus aureus. Reduction of bacterial colonization has been reported to be effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of a combination of fluticasone propionate 0.005% and mupirocin 2.0% ointment twice daily for 2 weeks in patients with atopic dermatitis clinically suspected of secondary bacterial infection.
Methods: An open-label, non-randomized study of 122 patients (64 males and 58 females) from 20 centers was conducted. Atopic dermatitis was diagnosed by clinical assessment and scoring was done on the visual analogue scale (VAS). Clinical evaluation of the lesions was done on day 1 (baseline), day 8 and on day 15 of study visits.
Results: At baseline, many patients had moderate itching (41.8%), moderate dryness (41.8%) and mild weeping lesions (49.2%). The baseline proportions of the clinicians' global impressions (CGI) scale for mild, moderate and severe atopic dermatitis lesions were 19.7%, 55.7% and 12.2% respectively. At the end of the treatment period, 67.2% patients had mild disease, whereas only 9% and 0.8% patients had moderate and severe disease respectively. At baseline, only 33.65% patients were comfortable with the existing lesions when assessed on visual analog scale (VAS). However, after the treatment, this proportion increased to 51.77% and 78.60% patients on day 8 and on day 15 respectively.
Conclusion: Twice daily topical application of a fluticasone propionate 0.005% and mupirocin 2.0% ointment is an effective and safe therapeutic regimen in atopic dermatitis.