Infectious Skin Conditions Research Articles

Detailed review of dermatology department consultations in hospital and emergency settings at a tertiary medical center in Mexico

Background: Dermatological consultations are crucial in the treatment of hospitalized and emergency patients. This study examines the scope and characteristics of skin disorders at a tertiary Mexican medical center. Materials and Methods: This descriptive, observational, retrospective study spanned two years and involved 1,134 patients. It aimed to evaluate the types and frequencies of dermatological consultations in both emergency and inpatient settings. Results: Infectious dermatoses, particularly soft tissue infections, were the most common in emergency settings, contrasting with a higher incidence of eczema and dermatitis in inpatient care. The study presents comprehensive statistical analyses linking dermatological conditions with patient demographics and specific hospital departments. Conclusion: This study highlights the essential role of dermatologists in hospital environments, particularly, in identifying and treating infectious skin conditions. It underscores the necessity for specialized dermatological expertise in both emergency and inpatient departments, contributing significantly to patient care and management strategies in hospital settings. Key words: Dermatology, Consultations, Skin Infections, Hospital, Emergency

Lepromatous Leprosy Masquerading as Infective and Inflammatory Skin Conditions: A Series of Four Cases

Lepromatous Leprosy Masquerading as Infective and Inflammatory Skin Conditions: A Series of Four Cases

Prevalence and spectrum of infectious and inflammatory dermatologic conditions occurring in pediatric heart transplant patients on a predominantly mTOR-based immune suppressive regimen: A retrospective chart review.

Pediatric heart transplant patients are routinely followed in dermatology clinics due to elevated risk of cutaneous malignancy. However, transplant patients may experience other, non-cancer-related dermatologic conditions including skin infections, inflammatory diseases, and drug eruptions that can cause significant medical and psychosocial comorbidity. A retrospective chart review of all pediatric heart transplant patients at Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester, MN, was performed to determine the prevalence and spectrum of non-cancer dermatologic conditions. Statistical analysis was conducted to look for associations between episodes of rejection and skin condition development. Of the 65 patients who received heart transplants under the age of 18 and were followed at Mayo Clinic, 69% (N = 45) were diagnosed with at least one skin condition between transplant and the time of most recent follow-up. Sixty-two percent (N = 40) of patients were diagnosed with an inflammatory skin condition (most commonly acne and atopic dermatitis), 45% (N = 29) with an infectious skin condition (most commonly warts and dermatophyte infection), and 32% (N = 21) with a drug eruption (most commonly unspecified rash and urticaria). No association was found between presence of skin disease and number of rejection episodes. Non-cancer dermatologic conditions are prevalent within pediatric heart transplant recipients and may directly impact their medical needs and quality of life. Dermatologist involvement in the care of post-transplant pediatric patients is important, not only for cancer screening but also for diagnosis and treatment of common infectious and inflammatory skin conditions.

Line-Field Confocal Optical Coherence Tomography (LC-OCT) for Skin Imaging in Dermatology.

Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) is a non-invasive optical imaging technique based on a combination of the principles of optical coherence tomography and reflectance confocal microscopy with line-field illumination, which can generate cell-resolved images of the skin in vivo. This article reports on the LC-OCT technique and its application in dermatology. The principle of the technique is described, and the latest technological innovations are presented. The technology has been miniaturized to fit within an ergonomic handheld probe, allowing for the easy access of any skin area on the body. The performance of the LC-OCT device in terms of resolution, field of view, and acquisition speed is reported. The use of LC-OCT in dermatology for the non-invasive detection, characterization, and therapeutic follow-up of various skin pathologies is discussed. Benign and malignant melanocytic lesions, non-melanocytic skin tumors, such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and actinic keratosis, and inflammatory and infectious skin conditions are considered. Dedicated deep learning algorithms have been developed for assisting in the analysis of LC-OCT images of skin lesions.

The Identification and Treatment of Common Skin Infections.

Skin conditions are a common problem addressed by medical providers. Up to 25% of individuals in the United States will seek attention for these conditions each year. The same problem occurs in the athletic training room, where athletes with infectious skin conditions can be seen. Most conditions are simple and can be treated without concern for spread to susceptible athletes. However, others can be quite serious and spread rapidly through a team and opponents during competition. Knowledge of the different types of skin infections is necessary to help treat these athletes and prevent spread to others. With proper diagnosis and treatment, certified athletic trainers can keep the athlete off the field of play for a minimum period and prevent transmission.

A comprehensive insight into the anti-inflammatory properties of dapsone.

The 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS), also known as dapsone, is traditionally used as a potent anti-bacterial agent in clinical management of leprosy. For decades, dapsone has been among the first-line medications used in multidrug treatment of leprosy recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Shortly after dapsone's discovery as an antibiotic in 1937, the dual function of dapsone (anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory) was elucidated. Dapsone exerts its anti-bacterial effects by inhibiting dihydrofolic acid synthesis, leading to inhibition of bacterial growth, while its anti-inflammatory properties are triggered by inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, reducing the effect of eosinophil peroxidase on mast cells and downregulating neutrophil-mediated inflammatory responses. Among the leading mechanisms associated with its anti-microbial/anti-protozoal effects, dapsone clearly has multiple antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic functions. In this regard, it has been described in treating a wide variety of inflammatory and infectious skin conditions. Previous reports have explored different molecular targets for dapsone and provided insight into the anti-inflammatory mechanism of dapsone. This article reviews several basic, experimental, and clinical approaches on anti-inflammatory effect of dapsone.

Optimization, characterization and in vivo evaluation of mupirocin nanocrystals for topical administration

Treatment of infectious skin conditions resulting from wounds and burns with topical antibiotics is challenging, particularly those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (MRSA). This is due to the formation of bacterial biofilms characterized by antimicrobial resistance. Mupirocin (MP), a widely used topical antibiotic, is active against gram-positive bacteria including MRSA. However, MP suffers from sub-optimal therapeutic efficacy due to its poor water-solubility and the significant rise in MP-resistant S. aureus. In this study, the physico-chemical characteristics of MP were modified through nanocrystallization to improve its therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of skin infections. Mupirocin-nanocrystals (MP-NC) were prepared using a nanoprecipitation technique and optimized using a D-optimal response surface design. The optimization of MP-NC produced ultra-small monodisperse spherical particles with a mean diameter of 70 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.2. The design resulted in two optimal MP-NC formulations that were evaluated by performing series of in vitro, ex vivo, microbiological, and in vivo studies. In-vitro results showed a 10-fold increase in the saturation solubility and a 9-fold increase in the dissolution rate of MP-NC. Ex vivo permeation studies, using pig ears skin, showed a 2-fold increase in the dermal deposition of MP-NC with the highest drug deposition occurring at 500-µm skin depth. Moreover, the optimal MP-NC formulations were lyophilized and incorporated into a 2% w/w cream. Microbiological studies revealed a 16-fold decrease in the minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration of MP-NC. In vivo studies, using a rat excision burn wound model, demonstrated rapid and complete healing of infected burn wounds in rats treated with MP-NC cream in comparison to marketed Avoban ointment. Our results suggest that nanocrystallization of MP may provide an avenue through which higher levels of a topically applied MP can be permeated into the skin to reach relevant infectious areas and exert potential local antibacterial effects.

A new step on the chemical profiles and pharmacological effects of three Scorzonera species (S. hieraciifolia, S. hispanica and S. tomentosa)

The genus Scorzonera is one of the most important genera in the Asteraceae family, and members of the genus have great potential in traditional medicine systems. In this article we aimed to determine skin protective and antimicrobial effects of different extracts from the roots and aerial parts of three Scorzonera species (S. hieraciifolia, S. hispanica, S. tomentosa). Antimicrobial properties were evaluated against different pathogen bacterial and fungal strains, whereas protective effects were studied in isolated mouse skin specimens exposed to hydrogen peroxide. In this biological model, the levels of l-dopa and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were evaluated, as markers of tyrosinase activity and inflammation, respectively. All extracts were effective in blunting the increased hydrogen peroxide-induced l-dopa turnover and PGE2 level; thus, suggesting skin protection that could be partly related to the content of flavonoids, among which rutin, in the tested extracts. Additionally, all extracts were effective as antibacterial and antifungal agents; intriguing results were observed against Trichoderma viride, which was particularly sensitive to S. tomentosa root extracts. Therefore, the present study strengthens the importance of investigating herbal preparations obtained from plants belonging to the genus Scorzonera, for the management and prevention of inflammatory and infectious skin conditions.

Pattern of Fungal Dermatoses Investigations in Upth: A Five-Year Review

Background: Infectious dermatoses are rife in resource limited settings. Fungi skin infection constitutes the majority of infective skin conditions seen by physicians in primary, secondary, and tertiary health care centers, in Nigeria. Methods: A retrospective five-year review of the pattern of fungal dermatoses investigations among patients attending the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital between 2015 – 2020 was carried out. Results: There were five hundred and fifty-five (555) patients referred for fungal investigations over the five-year period. The data showed that most of the patients referred for fungal investigations were between 21 – 30 years (36.4%) and 31 – 40 years (18.2%) respectively. Most of the patients were observed to be female (57.1%). The bulk of the referrals originated from the dermatology/medical outpatient clinic (90.3%). About 45% (252/555) of the referrals was observed to have fungal growth. The most common fungi isolated was <i>Aspergillus</i> sp (41.67%) and <i>Candida</i> sp (35.3%) with Blastomyces spp and Fusarium spp being the least isolated fungi (0.4% each). Conclusion: The study showed that the pattern of dermatoses was not significantly associated with age or gender. Superficial fungi infections still need to be addressed as a public health problem among the growing populace of Nigeria. Similarly, there seem to be a relative increase in the prevalence of skin infections among elderly people in the period under review.

A study of clinical patterns of cutaneous manifestations among hotel workers in costal Karnataka

&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;Background: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;Catering personnel and other workers exposed to foods may develop both type I and type IV allergic contact dermatitis to foods including spices. Cutaneous manifestations vary according to the place that a worker is employed. Studies on the cutaneous manifestations among restaurant and dhaba workers in India are scarce. This study was conducted to determine clinical patterns of cutaneous manifestations among hotel workers in costal Karnataka. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;Methods: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;The present cross-sectional study was carried out among workers of hotels situated in costal Karnataka. Study was conducted through Department of Dermatology, A. J. Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangalore. Consecutive type of non-probability sampling was used for selection of study subjects. A total of 1083 hotel workers from 53 randomly selected hotels, fulfilling eligibility criteria, were included in the study. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;Results: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;The prevalence of dermatological manifestations was observed as 34.2% (370/1083) in hotel workers. Prevalence of fungal and bacterial infections was 51.4% and 17.6% respectively. Scabies was found in 6.8% subjects while oral manifestation and nail changes were observed in 3.8% and 2.2% subjects. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;High prevalence of dermatological manifestations was present in hotel workers especially infective skin conditions like Tinea cruris and scabies. This is important, as they can be a potential source for spread of the infection. There is lot of scope for improving the standards of personal hygiene of hotel workers. Owners of establishments should be made aware of importance of pre-placement and periodical medical examination in order to protect the health of consumer.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Cutaneous disorders of adolescence among Nigerian secondary school students.

IntroductionA community-based, age-specific survey of skin disorders is usually necessary to characterize the true burden of skin disease among a given population and help to tailor health care personnel training and delivery towards the prevalent disorders in resource poor settings.MethodsThis was a descriptive cross-sectional study among adolescents attending secondary schools in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. A thousand and three hundred students were recruited from public and private secondary schools through a multi-staged stratified random sampling method. Information was obtained via a semi-structured questionnaire and all students underwent a physical examination. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20. Information generated was presented with tables and figures.ResultsThe prevalence of skin disease in the study was 66.5%. More females, mid-adolescents, students in senior class and those attending public schools had skin disorders. The most prevalent skin disease were: acne vulgaris, pityriasis versicolor, tinea capitis, pityriasis capitis and traction alopecia.ConclusionSkin conditions are highly prevalent among the adolescent population. Infective and inflammatory skin conditions appear to be more prevalent than other classes. Most times, only a few skin disorders account for the bulk of dermatoses affecting this age group. Adolescent skin healthcare should be subsidized because of the high prevalence of skin disorders in this age group.

Magnitude, characteristics and consequences of topical steroid misuse in rural North India: an observational study among dermatology outpatients

IntroductionCurrent evidence indicates an alarming increase in topical steroid (TS) misuse in India. Data regarding the magnitude and characteristics of this problem in rural India, where 68% of the population...

Benefits of Teledermatology for Geriatric Patients: Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

BackgroundTeledermatology is a health care tool that has been increasingly used around the world, mostly because dermatology has an emphasis on visual diagnosis. Many studies have shown that access to specialized care improves using teledermatology, which provides accurate diagnosis and reduces the time taken for treatment, with high patient satisfaction. As the population around the world grows old, there will be even more demand for dermatologists in years to come. It is essential to know which are the most prevalent skin conditions in the primary care population and if they can be addressed through teledermatology.ObjectiveOur main goal was to evaluate the proportion of lesions in individuals aged 60 years and older that could be managed using teledermatology in conjunction with primary care physicians. Second, we aimed to assess the most frequent skin lesions, the most common treatments provided to patients, and the distribution and causes of referrals made by the teledermatologists.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study from July 2017 to July 2018 in São Paulo, Brazil. We included 6633 individuals aged 60 years and older who presented with 12,770 skin lesions. Teledermatologists had three options to refer patients: (1) to undergo biopsy directly, (2) to an in-person dermatologist visit, and (3) back to the primary care physician with the most probable diagnosis and treatment.ResultsTeledermatology managed 66.66% (8408/12614) of dermatoses with the primary care physician without the need for an in-presence visit; 27.10% (3419/12614) were referred to dermatologists, and 6.24% (787/12614) directly to biopsy. The most frequent diseases were seborrheic keratosis, solar lentigo, onychomycosis, melanocytic nevus, benign neoplasms, actinic keratosis, epidermoid cyst, xerosis, leucoderma, and wart, with significant differences between sexes. Malignant tumors increased with age and were the leading cause for biopsies, while infectious skin conditions and pigmentary disorders decreased. Emollient was the most frequent treatment prescribed, in 31.88% (909/2856) of the cases.ConclusionsTeledermatology helped to treat 67% of the dermatoses of older individuals, addressing cases of minor complexity quickly and conveniently together with the primary care physician, thus optimizing dermatological appointments for the most severe, surgical, or complex diseases. Teledermatology does not aim to replace a face-to-face visit with the dermatologist; however, it might help to democratize dermatological treatment access for patients and decrease health care expenses.

Update on the use of dapsone in dermatology.

Dapsone (4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone) is the only remaining sulfone used in anthropoid therapeutics and is commercially available as an oral formulation, an inhaled preparation, and a 5% or 7.5% cream. Dapsone has antimicrobial effects stemming from its sulfonamide-like ability to inhibit the synthesis of dihydrofolic acid. It also has anti-inflammatory properties such as inhibiting the production of reactive oxygen species, reducing the effect of eosinophil peroxidase on mast cells and down-regulating neutrophil-mediated inflammatory responses. This allows for its use in the treatment of a wide variety of inflammatory and infectious skin conditions. Currently in dermatology, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved indications for dapsone are leprosy, dermatitis herpetiformis, and acne vulgaris. However, it proved itself as an adjunctive therapeutic agent to many other skin disorders. In this review, we discuss existing evidence on the mechanisms of action of dapsone, its FDA-approved indications, off-label uses, and side effects.

Prison cell spatial density and infectious and communicable diseases: a systematic review

ObjectiveTo summarise the extent and quality of evidence on the association between prison cell spatial density (a measure of crowding) and infectious and communicable diseases transmission among prisoners.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesEmbase,...

What's new in HIV dermatology?

HIV has long been associated with a number of inflammatory, infectious, and neoplastic skin conditions. In the era of anti-retroviral therapy, we have discovered even more about the relationship between skin disease and chronic immunosuppression. In particular, clinicians still face the propensity of persons living with HIV to develop difficult-to-control viral infections, chronic skin inflammation, and pruritus and—particularly as patients age—various types of skin cancers. Here, we summarize recent updates in the field of HIV dermatology and make recommendations to providers caring for these patients.

Common non infectious skin conditions of laboratory mice and rats

Laboratory mice and rats are the most favourite animals of the researchers all over the world. Sometimes these rodents can show a number of non infectious conditions concerning their hair, skin or legs and tail. These can be alopecia, bite wounds or the shedding of their legs or tail. It is important that ordinarily there is not a pathological cause for these conditions. It is believed that the social behaviour and the enviromental conditions of the animals may play a role. Fortunately, these cases are easily encountered and so, healthy animals are ensured for every reliable research.

Analysis of Dermatologic Disorders Occurring in Major League Baseball Players

Objective: To determine distribution of dermatologic disease among major league baseball (MLB) players and compare the distribution to that seen in the general population.Design: Cross Sectional SurveySetting: Data was collected via anonymous, online, randomized survey in January 2017.Participants: Head athletic trainers for 25 MLB teamsMain Outcome Measures: The distribution of dermatologic disease encountered by MLB athletic trainers for players versus non-player personnel.Results: The 3 most commonly encountered dermatologic conditions for MLB trainers among baseball players were blisters, contact dermatitis, and nail problems including onychomycosis. In contrast, the 3 most common dermatoses seen among the non-player personnel control group were rash, tinea, and concerning skin lesion which more closely resembled the distribution of skin diseases among the general population.Conclusions: MLB players experienced a different mix with a greater proportion of mechanical, infectious, and contact related skin conditions likely due to the baseball-related activities that impact on these athletes’ skin on a day-to-day basis. The prevalence of the dermatologic disorders noted in the study reinforces the importance of focused dermatologic education for trainers to enhance player care. Keywords: baseball; MLB; dermatology; disease distribution; blisters; contact dermatitis; mechanical skin injury; elite athletes

Analysis of Dermatologic Disorders Occurring in Major League Baseball Players

Objective: To determine distribution of dermatologic disease among major league baseball (MLB) players and compare the distribution to that seen in the general population.Design: Cross Sectional SurveySetting: Data was collected via anonymous, online, randomized survey in January 2017.Participants: Head athletic trainers for 25 MLB teamsMain Outcome Measures: The distribution of dermatologic disease encountered by MLB athletic trainers for players versus non-player personnel.Results: The 3 most commonly encountered dermatologic conditions for MLB trainers among baseball players were blisters, contact dermatitis, and nail problems including onychomycosis. In contrast, the 3 most common dermatoses seen among the non-player personnel control group were rash, tinea, and concerning skin lesion which more closely resembled the distribution of skin diseases among the general population.Conclusions: MLB players experienced a different mix with a greater proportion of mechanical, infectious, and contact related skin conditions likely due to the baseball-related activities that impact on these athletes’ skin on a day-to-day basis. The prevalence of the dermatologic disorders noted in the study reinforces the importance of focused dermatologic education for trainers to enhance player care. Keywords: baseball; MLB; dermatology; disease distribution; blisters; contact dermatitis; mechanical skin injury; elite athletes

Pattern of common skin conditions among school children in an urban area of a district in coastal Karnataka: a cross-sectional study

Background: Overcrowding, Poor personal hygiene and Lower economic status are proved to be major causes of common skin conditions. School children are more prone for these infections and majority of them are preventable. The objective of the study was to assess the pattern of common skin conditions among school children in Urban South India.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 615 children from three primary schools coming under the community health centre, Mulky. Data was collected using a pretested semi structured questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics and skin conditions were identified by examination.Results: Out of the 615 children, 389 (63%) had infective skin conditions. Most of them belonged to Hindu religion (57.4%) followed by Muslim (32.7%) and Christian (9.4%). Skin infections were equal among both sexes. Among the skin infections, nearly 26.1% had fungal infections, 18.7% had bacterial infections, 13.1% had parasitic infections and 5.4% had viral infections.Conclusions: Prevalence of skin infections is high in our study and there is a need to emphasize more on improving school health programmes and health education to teachers, parents and children.