BACKGROUND: Superficial bacterial infection is among the most common reasons for dermatologic consult. Numerous published articles suggest that the dried leaf of malunggay exhibits antibacterial property.
OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness and safety of 15% malunggay ointment with 2% mupirocin ointment in treating localized pyoderma.
METHODS: Sixty-three patients with localized pyoderma (?10% of total body surface area) were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind study to apply either 15% malunggay or 2%  mupirocin ointment twice daily for 14 days. Clinical evaluation using the Global Assessment Score (GAS) for pruritus, pain, erythema, vesiculation, moistness and crusting were conducted at baseline and days 3, 7 and 14 of clinic visit.
RESULTS: Both malunggay and mupirocin groups showed significant decreases in GAS from baseline to days 3, 7 and 14 of treatment (p=0.000, Repeated measures, ANOVA). By days 7 and 14, median GAS of malunggay ointment was higher than mupirocin (1 vs. 0, p<0.05, Mann Whitney U Test). Cure rates were higher in the mupirocin arm comapred to the malunggay arm in Day 3 (53.13% vs. 38.71%), Day 7 (93.75% vs. 70.97%) and Day 14 (96.88% vs. 77.42%). No adverse events were noted after application of malunggay-based ointment at the end of the study period. There were no recurrence two weeks post treatment.
CONCLUSION: Patients in the mupirocin treatment arm had significantly lower global assessment scores and higher cure rates compared to those in the malunggay treatment arm.