SKIN/SOFT TISSUE/BONE |
Infection |
Likely organisms |
Initial antimicrobials1 (maximum dose) |
Duration of treatment2 and other comments |
Bites (animal/human) |
Viridans streptococci
S. aureus
Group A streptococci
Oral anaerobes
E. corrodens
Pasteurella spp. (cat and dog)
C. canimorsus (dog) |
Amoxicillin/Clavulanate (400/57 mg/5 mL) 22.5 mg/kg (875 mg) (Amoxicillin component) 0.3 mL/kg (11 mL) oral bd |
5 days
Treat established infection
Prophylaxis generally not required, except:
- Presentation delayed >8 hours
- Puncture wound unable to be adequately debrided
- Bite on hands, feet, face
- Bite involves deep tissues (e.g. bones, joints, tendons)
- Bite involves an open fracture
- Immunocompromised patient
- Cat bites
Check tetanus immunisation status |
If severe, penetrating injuries, esp. involving joints or tendons |
As above |
Amoxicillin/Clavulanate
25 mg/kg (1 g) (Amoxicillin component) IV 12H (Birth – 3 months or
<4 kg), 8H (≥3 months and ≥4 kg) |
14 days
Increase to 6H in severe infections (≥3 months and ≥4 kg) |
Cellulitis
Mild/moderate (outpatient) |
Group A streptococci
S. aureus |
Cefalexin 33 mg/kg (500 mg) oral tds (1 g max for moderate cellulitis) |
5–10 days
If rapidly progressive consider adding Clindamycin 10 mg/kg (600 mg) IV 6H |
Moderate/severe (inpatient) |
Flucloxacillin3 50 mg/kg (2 g) IV 6H
or
Ceftriaxone 50 mg/kg (2 g) IV daily (for hospital-in-the-home) |
Facial cellulitis in child under 5 years of age and non-Hib immunised |
As above plus
S. pneumoniae
H. influenzae spp.6 |
Flucloxacillin3 50 mg/kg (2 g) IV 6H and
3rd gen cephalosporin4 |
Necrotising fasciitis |
As above |
Vancomycin 15 mg/kg (500 mg) IV 6H and
Meropenem 20 mg/kg (1 g) IV 8H and
Clindamycin 15 mg/kg (600 mg) IV 8H |
Consider IVIg |
Dental abscess |
Often polymicrobial
Viridans and anginosus group streptococci
Oral anaerobes
S. aureus |
Amoxicillin 25 mg/kg (500 mg) oral tds or Benzylpenicillin 50 mg/kg (1.2g) IV 6H |
7 days
Dental/surgical management required |
Head lice |
Pediculus humanus var. capitis |
1% permethrin liquid or cream rinse |
Repeat after one week |
Impetigo |
Group A streptococci
S. aureus |
Mupirocin 2% ointment top 8H if localised
or
Cefalexin 33 mg/kg (500 mg) oral bd |
5 days |
Lymphadenitis (cervical)
Mild |
S. aureus
Group A streptococci
Oral anaerobes |
Cefalexin 33 mg/kg (500 mg) oral tds |
7 days |
Severe |
As above |
Flucloxacillin3 50 mg/kg (2 g) IV 6H |
May require longer than 7 days |
Osteomyelitis
Uncomplicated |
S. aureus
Group A streptococci
K. kingae (partic ≤4y) S. pneumoniae
|
Flucloxacillin3 50 mg/kg (2 g) IV 6H ≤4y (to incl. Kingella) Cefazolin 50 mg/kg (2g) IV 8H |
Switch to oral Cefalexin 45 mg/kg (1.5 g) oral tds once afebrile plus clinical improvement plus inflammatory markers decreasing
3 weeks for uncomplicated cases2 |
If under 5 years of age and non-Hib immunised |
As above
plus H. influenzae type b6 |
Flucloxacillin3 50 mg/kg (2 g) IV 6H and
3rd gen cephalosporin4 |
In patient with sickle cell anaemia |
As above
plus Salmonella spp. |
Flucloxacillin3 50 mg/kg (2 g) IV 6H and
3rd gen cephalosporin4 |
3 weeks minimum |
With penetrating foot injury |
As above
plus P. aeruginosa |
Piperacillin/Tazobactam 100 mg/kg (4 g) (Piperacillin component) IV 8H |
Surgical intervention important |
Scabies |
Sarcoptes scabiei |
Permethrin 5% cream top |
One application from neck down; leave on for minimum of 8H (usually overnight)
May need to repeat after 7 days
Treat whole family |
Septic arthritis |
As for osteomyelitis |
As for osteomyelitis |
3 weeks for uncomplicated cases2
Always consider surgical drainage |
Chickenpox
In immunocompromised or neonate
Shingles
In immunocompromised
Involving eye |
Varicella zoster virus |
Aciclovir 20 mg/kg IV 12H (<30 weeks gestation), 8H (>30 weeks gestation – <3 months corrected age)
500 mg/m2 IV 8H (3 months – 12 years)
10 mg/kg IV 8H (>12 years)
Oral treatment (above) and Aciclovir ointment to eye 5 times per day |
7 days
Consider zoster immunoglobulin for neonates or immunocompromised exposed to chickenpox
Shingles in immunocompetent children does not generally require treatment |