Flucloxacillin

Flucloxacillin is an antibiotic often used to treat bacterial infections. It falls under the penicillin group of antibiotics and is frequently prescribed for different skin and soft tissue infections, such as infected eczema.

Infected eczema, or secondary infected eczema, occurs when bacteria or other microorganisms infect skin affected by eczema. Initially, it will feel itchy and appear red. If you look closely in natural light, you might see a shiny, orange-like sheen on the skin, resembling a dusted shimmer. As the infection progresses, you may notice oozing and crusting with a yellow or golden hue.

Flucloxacillin is an antibiotic from the penicillin family, designed to attack bacterial cell walls. It works by blocking a protein known as penicillin-binding protein (PBP), which is crucial for building these walls. By disrupting the cell wall creation, Flucloxacillin weakens the bacteria, leading to their death, and helps to clear infections. However, it only affects bacteria that are sensitive to penicillin-based antibiotics, like Staphylococcus aureus, which often causes infected eczema.

Flucloxacillin is used to treat various infections in your body and comes in several forms: injection, capsules, or oral solution. The capsules are available in two strengths: 250mg and 500mg.

If your eczema is infected, you'll probably be advised to take 500mg of Flucloxacillin four times a day for 5 to 7 days.

Yes, you can have alcohol while taking flucloxacillin, as it doesn't interact with the medication. However, it's important to drink sensibly and be aware that flucloxacillin can cause liver issues in some individuals.

If you drink too much alcohol, your liver will need to work harder to process it, which adds more strain to the organ.

Flucloxacillin is usually well-tolerated,

but it might cause some side effects. However, not everyone will have them, so there's no need to worry. The most common side effects, which may affect up to 1 in 10 people, are mild stomach issues, such as diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting.

Be aware that taking flucloxacillin and paracetamol together, particularly in high doses, can lead to interactions. There's a slight risk of developing a blood and fluid issue known as high anion gap metabolic acidosis. This is more likely if you have conditions such as severe kidney problems, sepsis, or malnutrition. It's best to avoid using flucloxacillin and paracetamol at the same time.

Typical signs and symptoms of high anion gap metabolic acidosis include:

Please see the

for Flucloxacillin to see a complete list of side effects.

Flucloxacillin is an oral medication and is often the first choice for treating infected eczema. However, if your eczema isn't due to bacteria or if the infection is only in a small area, you would typically use various topical treatments instead.

If you're allergic to penicillins or have found that flucloxacillin hasn't been effective for you before, clarithromycin 250mg taken twice daily for 5 to 7 days is another option.

If you're pregnant and have a penicillin allergy, you'll probably be given erythromycin at a dose of 250 mg to 500 mg, taken four times a day for 5 to 7 days.

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