How I Treat... Drug-resistant Pyoderma With Topicals

Veterinarians have long considered topical anti-infectives to play an important role in the treatment of bacterial pyoderma, but have typically relegated these products to the role of adjunctive therapy. This is because conventional wisdom has long held that wide-spread or generalized bacterial folliculitis cannot be cleared with topical therapy alone. However, with the recent advent of extensive antimicrobial resistance in strains of staphylococci that cause pyoderma, veterinary dermatologist are re-examining the utility of topical anti-infectives as monotherapies for all forms of pyoderma. The good news for veterinarians (and our animal patients) is that topical therapy can be effective for most cases of wide-spread or generalized bacterial folliculitis, provided that the pet owner is capable of applying the product properly and with an adequate frequency. While the necessary regimens can be labor-intensive and time consuming, choosing the most convenient format for application can greatly improve compliance. Fortunately, effective topical products are now available in a wide variety of formats that can be tailored to the individual patient and pet owner. […]