What are the best antibiotics for a boil?
Antibiotics are not always recommended to treat a boil. Boils are usually cut open by a healthcare provider and drained. When needed, the best antibiotic to treat a boil (also called a furuncle) depends on many factors, such as the presence of certain symptoms like fever or fast breathing, the location of the boil, your medical conditions, and whether you have already tried other antibiotics. The choice of antibiotic will also be based on which bacteria is most likely to be causing the infection.
Antibiotics prescribed for a boil typically target Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, since this is the most common bacteria that causes them. If you have tried an antibiotic that did not work or have a more severe infection, your healthcare provider might recommend an antibiotic that is active against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), pseudomonas aeruginosa, or other gram-negative bacteria. Antibiotic treatment options include both topical and systemic antibiotics.
Some examples of topical antibiotics that may be used to treat a boil include:
Some examples of systemic antibiotics that may be used to treat a boil include:
- Cefditoren pivoxil
- Cefaclor
- Cefalexin
- Ciprofloxacin
- Clindamycin
- Dicloxacillin
- Flucloxacillin
- Linezolid
- Tetracycline
- Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
Do not try to squeeze a boil yourself, since this can spread the infection and make it harder to treat. Always consult a healthcare provider about the most appropriate treatment for a boil.
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References
- InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Updated November 2022. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Boils and carbuncles: Learn More – How are boils treated? Accessed 11/05/24 at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513136/
- Lin, H., et. al. 2021. Interventions for bacterial folliculitis and boils (furuncles and carbuncles). In: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013099.pub2
- Stevens, D. L., et. al. 2014. Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft tissue infections: 2014 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. In: Clinical Infectious Diseases. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciu444
Read next
Is clindamycin a strong antibiotic?
Clindamycin is a strong broad-spectrum antibiotic, typically prescribed for serious infections, such as life-threatening methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin infections. Continue reading
Can I take clindamycin if I am allergic to penicillin?
Yes, you can. It is recommended that the use of the antibiotic clindamycin be reserved for patients who are allergic to penicillin or for those patients a healthcare provider determines penicillin to be an inappropriate treatment. Continue reading
Is clindamycin a penicillin?
No, clindamycin is not a penicillin antibiotic. Instead, it belongs to a class of medications known as lincomycin antibiotics, or lincosamides. Clindamycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, with the ability to impact many types of bacteria in the body. Continue reading
See also:
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