Combination of an antibiotic, which is generally not the best choice for cutaneous application, with a potent topical corticosteroid, which is liable to exacerbate the infection. For children and adults with atopic eczema, daily application of an emollient is the first-line treatment. Topical corticosteroids are useful mainly to treat flare-ups. Atopic eczema is sometimes complicated by infection, most often caused by Staphylococcus aureus ("golden staph"), with the development of pustules and crusting (1 ). The best treatment option is then topical application of mupirocin, unless there is extensive infection, in which case oral antibiotic treatment is justified (2,3). Since mid-2020, for treatment of infected eczema in children over one year of age and in adults, a cream (Dermafusone0, Bailleul) which contains fusidic acid (an antibiotic) and betamethasone (as the valerate form, a topical corticosteroid classified as having potent activity) has been marketed in France (4). Fusidic acid and betamethasone were already available in separate proprietary products, in the form of a cream or ointment (2,5). Fusidic acid is an antibiotic which is usually effective in treating skin infections due to S. aureus. However, because it is also administered orally or intravenously to treat some severe S. aureus infections, its use should be restricted in order to minimise the risk of emergence of resistant strains. Mupirocin, in contrast, has the advantage of being solely used topically (6).
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