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THE MERCK MANUAL MEDICAL LIBRARY: The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy
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Bacterial Infections

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Nasal vestibulitis is bacterial infection of the nasal vestibule, typically with Staphylococcus aureus. It may result from nose picking or excessive nose blowing and causes annoying crusts and bleeding when the crusts slough off. Bacitracin Some Trade Names
AK-TRACIN
BACIGUENT
BACIIM
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or mupirocin Some Trade Names
BACTROBAN
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ointment applied topically bid for 14 days is effective.

Furuncles of the nasal vestibule are usually staphylococcal; they may develop into spreading cellulitis of the tip of the nose. Systemic antistaphylococcal antibiotics (eg, cephalexin Some Trade Names
KEFLEX
KEFTAB
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500 mg po qid) are given and warm compresses and topical mupirocin Some Trade Names
BACTROBAN
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are applied. Furuncles are incised and drained to prevent local thrombophlebitis and subsequent cavernous sinus thrombosis.

Last full review/revision July 2008 by Marvin P. Fried, MD

Content last modified July 2008

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