Betamethasone/ Fusidic Acid

Registered South African indications:

Dermatitis with secondary bacterial infection caused by:

• Most gram positive aerobic organisms 
• Some gram negative aerobic organisms (including Neisseria spp)
• Some anaerobic organisms (including Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens)

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or any of the excipients in this combination product
• Systemic fungal infections
• Primary skin infections caused by fungi, virus or bacteria
• Skin manifestations related to tuberculosis or syphilis
• Perioral dermatitis
• Rosacea

Cautions

• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Renal impairment
• Hepatic impairment
• Elderly
• Prolonged use
• Application near eyes
• Application over large area
• Children

Forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: cre

Eczema - mild to moderate
Dermatitis
- with secondary infection

Betamethasone/ Fusidic Acid
1/20 (mg/g)

• Topical (cre): Apply small quantity to affected area, 8-12hrly; Treatment duration: 2 weeks

For more resistant lesions, overnight occlusion with polythene film can enhance treatment effectiveness

See adult dosage

Recommendations for this combination product as per highest risk category when comparing individual active ingredients

Pregnancy

• FDA Pregnancy Category Not Rated (NR) (Fusidic acid)

Breastfeeding

• Caution; not recommended (Betamethasone)

Renal Impairment

• Caution; no information available

Hepatic Impairment

• Caution; no information available

Elderly

• Caution; no information available

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders

• Contact dermatitis
• Eczema
• Burning sensation
• Pruritus
• Dry skin
• Erythema
• Urticaria
• Rash 
• Application site reactions

Immune, Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders

• Hypersensitivity

No information available

None routine

Fusidic acid
Fusidic acid is a potent antibacterial agent. Fusidic acid and its salts show fat and water solubility and strong surface activity and exhibit unusual ability to penetrate intact skin. Concentrations of 0.03-0.12μg fusidic acid per ml inhibit nearly all strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Topical application of fusidic acid is also effective against streptococci, corynebacteria, neisseria and certain clostridia. 

Betamethasone
Betamethasone is a glucocorticoid receptor agonist, which acts as an anti-inflammatory agent via multiple mechanisms to inhibit late phase allergic reactions. The anti-inflammatory actions of corticosteroids are thought to involve lipocortins, phospholipase A2 inhibitory proteins which, through inhibition of arachidonic acid, control the biosynthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. 

COMBINATION PREPARATIONS

Betamethasone/ Fusidic acid

Cream (per g) 1mg/20mg

• Fucibet (Adcock) originator