Clinical and epidemiological features of coryneform skin infections at a tertiary hospital.

BACKGROUND: Skin infections caused by coryneform bacteria are common dermatological conditions. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies are available on the clinical characteristics and epidemiological features of this group of disorders as one entity from India and abroad. AIMS: To study the clinical and epidemiological features of coryneform skin infections. METHODS: A total of 75 patients presenting with clinically distinctive lesions of pitted keratolysis, erythrasma and trichobacteriosis to our hospital were included in the study. Cases were interviewed with particular emphasis on epidemiological features and the various clinical findings were recorded. Investigations like Gram's stain, Wood's light examination, 10% KOH scrapings, were done in selected cases to ascertain the diagnosis. RESULTS: Pitted keratolysis was more common in the age group of 31-40 years (40%) with a male preponderance (76.7%), most commonly affecting pressure bearing areas of the soles with malodour (86.7%) and frequent contact with water (58.3%) constituting the most important presenting symptom and provocating factor respectively. Erythrasma affected both male and female patients equally and was more commonly detected in patients with a BMI > 23kg/m(2) (62.5%) and in diabetics (50%). All patients with trichobacteriosis presented with yellow coloured concretions in the axillae. Bromhidrosis (71.4%) and failure to regularly use an axillary deodorant (71.4%) were the most common presenting symptom and predisposing factor respectively. CONCLUSION: Coryneform skin infections are common dermatological conditions, though epidemiological data are fragmentary. Hyperhidrosis is a common predisposing factor to all three coryneform skin infections. Asymmetrical distribution of pits has been reported in our study. Diabetic status needs to be evaluated in all patients with erythrasma. Woods lamp examination forms an indispensible tool to diagnose erythrasma and trichobacteriosis.

Subcutaneous mycoses in coastal Karnataka in south India.

BACKGROUND: Subcutaneous mycoses are chronic, localized infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue which occur following traumatic implantation of the etiological agent. The causative organisms are soil saprophytes of regional epidemiology with varying ability to adapt to the tissue environment and elicit disease. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate the various types of subcutaneous mycoses, including actinomycotic mycetomas, in south coastal Karnataka, India. METHODS: Between January 2005 and January 2013, a total of 25 patients were diagnosed with subcutaneous mycoses based on a detailed clinical history and presentation, histopathology, and culture of organisms. RESULTS: Chromoblastomycosis was the infection most commonly seen (n = 16 patients, 64%), followed by mycetoma (n = 4, 16%), sporotrichosis (n = 4, 16%), and rhinoentomophthoromycosis (n = 1, 4%). The extremities were the most common site of involvement, with the lower limb being most affected (64%). Males were more commonly afflicted (64%) than females (36%). Most patients were agricultural workers, although preceding trauma was noted in only three patients. The majority of patients responded well to therapy and were disease-free on follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Subcutaneous mycoses are a rare group of disorders. Chromoblastomycosis is the most frequent subcutaneous fungal infection in south India. Morphologically, chromomoblastomycoses present as verrucous, ulcerative, nodular, or eczematous lesions. Clinical diagnosis is important as culture is often negative. The incidence of infection is higher among rubber tappers. It is important to clinically differentiate chromoblastomycosis from tuberculosis verrucosa cutis. Most of the subcutaneous mycoses respond well to treatment, with the exception of rhinoentomophthoromycosis, which is a rare form of deep mycosis with associated mutilation. Eumycetomas are not observed in this part of India.

Role of C-reactive protein as a marker of disease severity and cardiovascular risk in patients with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of studies addressing the elevation of C-reactive protein (CRP) among psoriatic patients and the role of this marker in assessment of disease severity and association with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). OBJECTIVE: To assess the difference in CRP levels between psoriatic patients and healthy population and to determine their role in disease severity. Also to compare CRP levels in psoriatic patients with and without the metabolic syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of hundred patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and an equal number of age- and gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study over a period of one year. Serum CRP levels of both cases and controls were estimated. Metabolic syndrome was identified among psoriasis patients using National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Panel III (ATP III) guidelines. Clinical activity of psoriasis was evaluated using Psoriasis Area and Severity Index Score. RESULTS: Patients with psoriasis reported significantly higher levels of CRP than healthy controls (P value 0.001). Patients with severe disease had significantly higher levels of CRP (P value < 0.003). Elevated level of CRP was observed among psoriatic patients with the metabolic syndrome than patients without the metabolic syndrome and the difference was statistically significant (P value = 0.001). CONCLUSION: CRP may be considered as a useful marker of psoriasis severity that could be used to monitor psoriasis and its treatment. Elevated levels of CRP may be an independent risk factor for CVD in patients with psoriasis.

Granulomatous pyoderma gangrenosum of the genitalia in the absence of Crohn's disease.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare ulcerative neutrophilic disorder of the skin. Atypical variants of PG such as vegetative PG, bullous PG, and pustular forms are described in literature. Occasionally, granulomatous reaction in dermis may be seen on histology when PG is associated with Crohn's disease or in the vegetative variant of PG. We report a case of granulomatous PG involving the genitalia in a 43-year-old female without associated inflammatory bowel disease.

Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis in coexistence with leprosy.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis and leprosy are diseases both caused by intracellular pathogens that represent a major health predicament even today. Both these diseases have some characteristics in common, such as the involvement of mucocutaneous tissue, a course with a chronic granulomatous response, a broad clinical spectrum in relation to the host's immunity, and they often affect the poor population in tropical countries. Co-infection of the two diseases, although known to occur, is rarely encountered and reported. Even though new cases of leprosy are diagnosed in the region of coastal Karnataka of India, cutaneous leishmaniasis is rarely reported. We hereby describe a patient who presented with concurrent leprosy and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Target-like Pigmentation After Minipunch Grafting in Stable Vitiligo.

Surgical treatment for vitiligo has been ever evolving. Each surgical modality has its own benefits and limitations. Miniature punch grafting is the most extensively performed surgery, which gives good results in stable vitiligo. Herein we report an unusual type of repigmentation observed after minipunch grafting in a patient of stable vitiligo, which resembled target-like lesions with a "perigraft halo" surrounding individual grafts. Such pigment spread occurred despite the use of 0.5 mm larger graft from the donor site.

Porphyria cutanea tarda in a human immunodeficiency virus-infected patient: A rare scenario in India.

A 30-year-old unmarried, heterosexual male presented with an 8-month history of tense blistering skin lesions over the hands. Physical examination revealed facial hypertrichosis and multiple erosions with crusts and scars over the dorsum of both hands. Woods lamp examination of the urine, histopathology and urinary porphyrin levels were suggestive of porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT). The patient responded well to hydroxychloroquine and antiretroviral drugs. This case report calls for a detailed evaluation and HIV testing in every patient with PCT.

Ulcerating type 1 lepra reaction mimicking lazarine leprosy: an unusual presentation of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in an HIV-infected patient.

Leprosy maybe "unmasked" in the context of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome and treating dermatologists, particularly in highly endemic areas for Hansen's disease, need to be cognizant to this possibility. It may also reflect emergence of a previously clinically silent infection in the course of immunologic restoration.

Granulomatous cheilitis with granulomatous vulvitis: a rare association.

Granulomatous cheilitis and granulomatous vulvitis are rare disorders characterized by painless swelling of lips and vulva, respectively. Histopathology of both conditions show non-caseating epithelioid cell granulomas in the dermis. Both disorders have been associated with Crohn's disease rarely. Occurrence of the two conditions in the same patient is extremely infrequent. We hereby report, the association of granulomatous cheilitis with granulomatous vulvitis in a 30-year-old female.

Cutaneous lymphangiectasia of the vulva secondary to tuberculosis.

Cutaneous lymphangiectasia, also called as acquired lymphangioma, is a benign cutaneous disorder involving the dermal and subcutaneous lymphatic channels. It can rarely occur on the vulva. We describe a 35-year-old woman who came with multiple raised lesions over the vulva and left upper thigh of 1 year duration. She gave history of getting treated for multiple swellings that developed over right side of the neck and inguinal regions on both sides three decades ago. On local genital examination, the patient had a large polypoidal growth involving both sides of the vulva, left upper thigh, and over pubic area. Multiple linear scars were present over the upper thighs and groin bilaterally. The patient underwent simple vulvectomy and left thigh growth excision. Histopathological examination of the vulvectomy specimen confirmed our diagnosis.