6/29/23, 1:37 AM PATCH-I Pathway Feedback Search Clinical Topics Home Studies PATCH I PATCH I DiseaseCellulitis Trial question What is the role of low-dose penicillin in patients with recurrent cellulitis? Study design Multi-center Double blinded RCT Population Characteristics of study participants 60.0% female N = 274 40.0% male 274 patients (165 female, 109 male) Inclusion criteria: patients with 2 episodes of cellulitis of the leg Key exclusion criteria: use of antibiotics for the prevention of cellulitis in the preceding 6 months; allergy to penicillin; previous leg ulceration, surgery, or penetrating trauma; an age of < 16 years Interventions N=136 penicillin (250 mg BID for 12 months) N=138 placebo (matching placebo BID for 12 months) Primary outcome First cellulitis recurrence, during prophylaxis phase 37.0 % 37 https://web.pathway.md/studies/recnIeCoObEtQdJcP 1/2 6/29/23, 1:37 AM PATCH-I Pathway 3 27.8 % 22 18.5 % Significant decrease 9.3 % NNT = 7 0.0 % Penicillin Placebo Significant decrease in first cellulitis recurrence, during the prophylaxis phase (22% vs. 37%; HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.86) Secondary outcomes No significant difference in first cellulitis recurrence, during the no-intervention follow-up period (27% vs. 27%; HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.93) Safety outcomes No significant differences in adverse events (37 vs. 48, p=0.50). Conclusion In patients with 2 episodes of cellulitis of the leg, penicillin was superior to placebo with respect to first cellulitis recurrence, during the prophylaxis phase. Reference Thomas KS, Crook AM, Nunn AJ et al. Penicillin to prevent recurrent leg cellulitis. N Engl J Med. 2013 May 2;368(18):1695-703. Open reference URL https://web.pathway.md/studies/recnIeCoObEtQdJcP 2/2