| Antibiotics (oral) |
| Amoxicillin/clavulanate (Augmentin)* | 500 mg/125 mg orally three times daily for seven days | Dosage adjustment may be necessary in patients with renal impairment; cross-sensitivity documented with cephalosporins; diarrhea may occur |
| | or | |
| 875 mg/125 mg orally twice daily for seven days | |
| Clindamycin (Cleocin)* | 150 to 450 mg orally three or four times daily (not to exceed 1.8 g daily) for seven days | Adjust dosage in patients with severe hepatic dysfunction; associated with severe and possibly fatal colitis; inform patient to report severe diarrhea immediately |
| Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX; Bactrim, Septra)* | 160 mg/800 mg orally twice daily for seven days | High doses may cause bone marrow depression; discontinue therapy if significant hematologic changes occur; caution in folate or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency |
| Antibiotics (topical) |
| Bacitracin/neomycin/polymyxin B ointment (Neosporin) | Three times daily for five to 10 days | Overgrowth of nonsusceptible organisms with prolonged use |
| Gentamicin ointment | Three or four times daily for five to 10 days | — |
| Mupirocin ointment (Bactroban) | Two to four times daily for five to 10 days | Avoid contact with eyes; may irritate mucous membranes; resistance may result with prolonged use |
| Antifungal agents (oral) |
| Fluconazole (Diflucan) | 100 mg orally once daily for seven to 14 days | Hepatotoxicity and QT prolongation may occur |
| Itraconazole (Sporanox) | 200 mg orally twice daily for seven days | Antacids may reduce absorption; edema may occur with coadministration of calcium channel blockers; rhabdomyolysis may occur with coadministration of statins; inhibition of cytochrome P450 hepatic enzymes may cause increased levels of many drugs |
| Nystatin (Mycostatin) 200,000-unit pastilles | One or two pastilles four times daily for seven to 14 days | Adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea |
| Antifungal agents (topical) |
| Ciclopirox topical suspension (Loprox TS) | Twice daily until clinical resolution (one month maximum) | Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes |
| Clotrimazole cream (Lotrimin) | Three times daily until clinical resolution (one month maximum) | Avoid contact with eyes; if irritation or sensitivity develops, discontinue use and begin appropriate therapy |
| Econazole cream (Spectazole) | Three or four times daily until clinical resolution (one month maximum) | Avoid contact with eyes; if irritation or sensitivity develops, discontinue use and begin appropriate therapy |
| Ketoconazole cream (Nizoral; brand no longer available in the United States) | Once or twice daily until clinical resolution (one month maximum) | Avoid contact with eyes; if irritation or sensitivity develops, discontinue use and begin appropriate therapy |
| Nystatin cream | Three times daily until clinical resolution (one month maximum) | Avoid contact with eyes; if irritation or sensitivity develops, discontinue use and begin appropriate therapy |
| Antiviral agents for herpetic whitlow |
| Acyclovir (Zovirax) † | 200 mg orally five times daily for 10 days | Nausea, vomiting, rash, deposition in renal tubules, and central nervous system symptoms may occur |
| Famciclovir (Famvir)† | 250 mg orally twice daily for 10 days | Dosage adjustment recommended in patients with renal impairment |
| Valacyclovir (Valtrex)† | 500 mg orally twice daily for 10 days | Associated with onset of hemolytic uremic syndrome |
| Corticosteroids (topical) |
| Betamethasone 0.05% cream (Diprolene) | Twice daily for one to two weeks | If infection develops and is not responsive to antibiotic treatment, discontinue use until infection is controlled |
| Betamethasone valerate 0.1% solution or lotion (Beta-Val) | Once or twice daily for one to two weeks | Prolonged therapy over large body surface areas may suppress adrenal function; if infection develops, discontinue use until infection is controlled |
| Combination antifungal agent and corticosteroid |
| Nystatin and triamcinolone cream (Mytrex; brand no longer available in the United States) | Two or three times daily until the cuticle has regrown | Check precautions for both components |