Erythrasma caused by Corynebacterium minutissimum is treated with which antibiotic?

Erythrasma caused by Corynebacterium minutissimum is treated with which antibiotic?

• A. Erythromycin
• B. Doxycycline
• C. Amoxicillin
• D. Cephalexin

Answer: (A)

Erythrasma is a superficial skin infection caused by Corynebacterium minutissimum, and selecting an antibiotic with good activity against this organism is key. Erythromycin, a macrolide, reliably targets Corynebacterium minutissimum by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis at the 50S subunit and tends to penetrate skin well. That makes it an effective choice for both topical and systemic therapy of this condition. While other options exist, beta-lactam antibiotics like amoxicillin or cephalexin have limited activity against Corynebacterium minutissimum, and doxycycline can be used in some situations, the classic and most reliable patient-friendly option highlighted in clinical teaching is erythromycin.

Erythrasma is a superficial skin infection caused by Corynebacterium minutissimum, and selecting an antibiotic with good activity against this organism is key. Erythromycin, a macrolide, reliably targets Corynebacterium minutissimum by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis at the 50S subunit and tends to penetrate skin well. That makes it an effective choice for both topical and systemic therapy of this condition. While other options exist, beta-lactam antibiotics like amoxicillin or cephalexin have limited activity against Corynebacterium minutissimum, and doxycycline can be used in some situations, the classic and most reliable patient-friendly option highlighted in clinical teaching is erythromycin.