The mean age of 151 patients (107 males and 44 females, 18–78 years of age) was
determined to be 50.68 ± 12.972. Erythrasma was the commonest in the toe webs
(64.9%), which was followed by the inguinal region (17.9%), in the axillary region
(14.6%) and in the inframammary region (2.6%). Accompanying symptoms were as
follows: pruritus in 81 patients (53.6%), erythema in 109 patients (72.2%), scaling in 145
patients (96%) and hyperhi- drosis in 45 patients (29.8%).
Based on the average Wood’s light reflection scores, when the groups were compared
according to the effectiveness of the treatment at the 48th hour, oral clarithromycin and
fusidic acid were significantly more effective than the placebo cream and placebo tablets.
Although oral erythromycin was found to be significantly more effective than the placebo
tablets (the Mann–Whitney U-test, p < 0.05, and the mean values of the scores were
1.250 ± 0.114 and 1.850 ± 0054, respectively), there was no statistically signifi- cant
difference between the oral erythromycin and placebo cream (the Mann–Whitney U-test,
p = 0.276, and the mean values of the scores were 1.250 ± 0.114 and 1.416 ± 0117,
respectively). Fusidic acid was significantly superior to systemic clarithromycin and
erythromycin. Oral clarithromycin was found to be significantly more effective than oral
erythromycin at the 48th hour (the Mann–Whitney U-test, p < 0.05, and the mean values
of the score were 0.833 ± 0.108 and 1.250 ± 0.114, respectively). On the 7th day, oral
clarithromycin and fusidic acid were super- ior to the placebo cream and placebo tablets.
Fusidic acid cream was significantly superior to the oral clarithromycin and erythromycin
tablets. There was no significant difference between the clarithromycin and erythromycin
tablets (the Mann–Whitney U-test, p = 0.255, and the mean values of the scores were
0.450 ± 0.110 and 0.700 ± 0141, respectively). On the 14th day, clarithromycin,
erythromycin and fusidic acid cream were found to be significantly superior to the
placebo cream and placebo tablets. Fusidic acid cream was significantly more effective
than clarithromycin and erythromycin tablets. There was no significant difference
between the clarithro- mycin and erythromycin tablets (the Mann–Whitney U-test, p =
0.154, and the mean values of the scores were 0.333 ± 0.105 and 0.633 ± 0143,
respectively)
48 H
Oral claritomycin : oral clarithromycin > more effective than the placebo cream and
placebo table, Oral clarithromycin was found to be significantly more effective than oral
erythromycin at the 48th hour
fusidic acid : more effective than the placebo cream and placebo tablets. Fusidic acid was
significantly superior to systemic clarithromycin and erythromycin.
oral erythromycin : significantly more effective than the placebo tablets, was no
statistically signifi- cant difference between the oral erythromycin and placebo cream
On the 7th day
oral clarithromycin : were super- ior to the placebo cream and placebo tablets.
fusidic acid : were super- ior to the placebo cream and placebo tablets. was significantly
superior to the oral clarithromycin and erythromycin tablets.
There was no significant difference between the clarithromycin and erythromycin tablets
On the 14th day
clarithromycin, erythromycin and fusidic acid cream were found to be significantly
superior to the placebo cream and placebo tablets
. Fusidic acid cream was significantly more effective than clarithromycin and
erythromycin tablets
. There was no significant difference between the clarithro- mycin and erythromycin
tablets
Based on the scores at the end of the 14th day, according to the response to treatment, the
score values were considered as follows: complete response 0,
partial response 0.5–1 and no response 1.5–2. Accord- ingly, in the rate of the response to
treatment at the end of the 14th day in the erythromycin group, complete response was
determined in 16 patients (53.3%), par- tial response was determined in 7 patients
(23.4%) and no response was observed in 7 patients (23.4%). In the clarithromycin
group, responses were as follows: com- plete in 20 patients (66.7%), partial in 8 patients
(26.6%) and no response in 2 patients (6.7%). In the fusidic acid group, complete
response was observed in 30 patients (96.8%) and partial response was observed in 1
patient (3.2%) (Table II).
