Perceptions of teledermatology in the COVID-19 era: are patients ready for it?

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed care provision models, with a rapid increase in the adoption of telemedicine to reduce in-person visits. Although there are many benefits to teledermatology, there are also factors that hinder its widespread adoption. We aimed to examine patients' perceptions of teledermatology to identify the barriers to its adoption. Methods: A prospective study was conducted from 15 June to 14 August 2020. Patients were invited to complete a questionnaire in an outpatient dermatology clinic via direct approach by clinical staff or posters posted at the door of consultation rooms. Results: Out of 2,276 clinic attendances, 997 survey responses (43.8%) were collected over a 3-month period. When asked if they would change their subsequent visit to teledermatology, 294 (29.5%) patients were keen, 166 (16.6%) were unsure and 537 (53.9%) declined. Significant factors for declining teledermatology were lack of prior exposure to videoconferencing (P < 0.01) and lower educational level (P = 0.019). Patients also raised concerns regarding the ability of teledermatology to address medical concerns (32.1%) and indicated a preference for face-to-face consultation (29.7%). Conclusion: Factors that influence patients' decision to adopt teledermatology, such as concerns about its ability to address medical issues, lack of IT literacy or experience in teleconferencing, are modifiable. Targeted strategies such as careful patient selection, a dedicated teleconsultation workflow, and the use of a novel 'teledermatology patient journey' (including a clinic walkthrough at the first visit) and an intuitive audio-enabled user interface, may improve patient perceptions and adoption of teleconsultation service.

Systemic Versus Topical Corticosteroids in the Treatment of DRESS: A Retrospective Cohort Study Followed by a Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a severe systemic drug hypersensitivity syndrome with significant risks of mortality and long-term sequelae. Management is challenging; whilst systemic corticosteroids are generally regarded as standard of care, there is a suggestion that topical corticosteroids may be a safe alternative. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of patients with DRESS treated with systemic corticosteroids and topical corticosteroids in an academic medical center. METHODS: The medical records of patients diagnosed with DRESS at the Singapore General Hospital between 2009 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. A secondary systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to further clarify the outcomes. RESULTS: Out of 94 patients with DRESS, 41 (44%) were treated with topical corticosteroids and 53 (56%) were treated with systemic corticosteroids. Patients receiving systemic corticosteroids were more likely to develop infective complications (32.1 vs 12.2%, p = 0.02). One-month and 12-month mortality, length of hospital stay, flares of DRESS, and viral reactivation were similar between the two groups. In our meta-analysis (six studies, n = 292), there were no significant differences in mortality or length of stay between patients treated with systemic or topical corticosteroids. LIMITATIONS: This study was a non-controlled retrospective cohort study and the allocation of treatment may have been influenced by the severity of disease. Results of the secondary meta-analysis are limited by the quality of included studies. CONCLUSIONS: Topical corticosteroids may be a safe and efficacious alternative to systemic corticosteroids in the treatment of mild-to-moderate DRESS. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration CRD42021285691.

Incidence of cutaneous graft-versus-host disease in a Singapore academic medical centre - A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is common in allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. HLA mismatch is the most significant determinant of GVHD. Our study aimed to compare the incidence of cutaneous GVHD haploidentical (Haplo) and matched donors in an Asian population. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of the 2015-2019 bone marrow transplant registry was conducted in a transplant centre. We compared the incidence of cutaneous GVHD in Haplo with allogeneic matched unrelated donor (MUD) and matched-sibling donor (MSD) transplant recipients. Secondary objectives include acute and chronic GVHD incidence, dermatology referrals, and histological findings. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-nine out of 203 cases were reviewed; 17 (9.5%) Haplo, 80 (44.7%) MUDs and 82 (45.8%) MSDs. The median follow-up for Haplo, MUD and MSD was 15.2, 34.2 and 35.7 months, respectively. Haplo had a higher cumulative incidence of cutaneous GVHD than MUD and MSD (p = 0.053). Chronic GVHD was only reported in MSD. The most common histology was vacuolar interface changes (13 [44.8%]) with a wide range of onset post-transplant (19-456 days). CONCLUSIONS: Haplo donors may have a higher GVHD incidence than MUD and MSD in our predominantly Asian cohort. This information may be helpful when counselling patients pre-transplant. Further prospective studies are required.

Patient and learner experience in a new set up of a multidisciplinary dermatology-rheumatology clinic care model for psoriatic arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: We described the set-up of a new multidisciplinary psoriatic arthritis-psoriasis (PsA-PsO) clinic incorporating service, education, and research between rheumatologists and dermatologists for PsA. We describe the patients' and learners' experience of this shared-care model. METHODS: A PsA-PsO clinic was newly set up in 2019. Each patient was first seen by a trainee, followed by both a dermatologist and a rheumatologist simultaneously in the same consultation room. We collected patients' and learners' experience through self-administered surveys. RESULTS: From May 2019 to January 2020, we collected data from 44 visits (55% new referrals, 45% follow up) from 30 patients: 22.7% were referred for diagnostic doubts, 77.3% were for therapeutic issues. Eight of the 10 patients referred for diagnosis had PsA confirmed. Medication changes occurred in 63.6% of visits; 63.6% of patients continued follow up in the PsA-PsO clinic, and 36.4% were discharged back to the original respective care. The median (interquartile range) rating of patient satisfaction of the care was 8 (7-8) out of 10; 96.1% of patients would "probably" or "definitely recommend" the care to others. From 20 learners, 95% reported the experience as "extremely" or "very" beneficial to training. The PsA-PsO clinic was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic from February 2020 because of lack of available staff. The service was resumed gradually from May 2021. CONCLUSION: Despite challenges, we report the set-up of a new care model between dermatologists and rheumatologists for care of patients with psoriatic disease. The care model was well received by patients. Learners from various levels reported benefit from the learning experience.

Mycoplasma-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis: Case-control analysis of a cohort managed in a specialized center.

BACKGROUND: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection is associated with extrapulmonary complications such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the differences in epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and disease outcomes between drug-induced and Mycoplasma-related SJS/TEN. METHODS: All patients with SJS/TEN admitted to our center between 2003 and 2016 inclusive were treated under a standardized protocol. Comparative analysis was made between patients who tested positive for MP versus a control group with negative MP serology in the presence of high-notoriety drugs defined by an algorithm for assessment of drug causality in epidermal necrolysis >5. RESULTS: Of 180 cases of SJS/TEN patients treated in our institution, 6 had positive MP serologies and were compared to a control group of 71 cases of drug-induced SJS/TEN with an algorithm for assessment of drug causality in epidermal necrolysis score of >5. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics, disease classification, body surface area involved, and extent of mucosal involvement. We found significant differences in mortality rates between the Mycoplasma and control groups on discharge (0% vs 22.5%, P < .001) and at 1-year follow up (0% vs 32.4%, P = .002), respectively. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective design, small sample size. CONCLUSION: Although recent studies have shown that MP-induced SJS/TEN is morphologically different and deserves a separate classification system, this would need to be borne out in larger prospective studies.

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis: Epidemiology, clinical course, and treatment outcomes of patients treated in an Asian academic medical center.

BACKGROUND: Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is a rare severe cutaneous adverse drug reaction. Although acutely patients have significant morbidity and occasional systemic involvement, the clinical course is generally self-limited. To date, there has been no consensus on treatment. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our current study was to evaluate the clinical features, drug association, treatment, and outcomes in a cohort of patients treated in an academic medical center. METHODS: A retrospective review of electronic medical records over a period of 10 years from 2009 to 2018 in a single tertiary academic medical center in Singapore was performed. Forty-three medical records with probable/definite diagnosis of AGEP were identified and analyzed for statistical significance. RESULTS: Drug association was identified in 93% of cases. The most frequent drug class was antibiotics, including penicillins, cephalosporins, and vancomycin. Systemic involvement was reported in 13.9% of patients. All cases of AGEP resolved with cessation of the offending drug. There was no mortality attributed to AGEP. Treatment with systemic steroid was associated with a decreased length of hospital stay (P = .035) in patients with AGEP. CONCLUSION: AGEP was a self-limiting adverse drug reaction that was commonly caused by antibiotics. Although there was no difference in mortality, there was a significant reduction in the length of hospitalization with systemic corticosteroid treatment compared with that of topical corticosteroid treatment of AGEP.

Risk factors and diagnostic markers of bacteremia in Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis: A cohort study of 176 patients.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is the main cause of death in Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to identify admission risk factors predictive of bacteremia and the accompanying clinical or biochemical markers associated with positive blood cultures. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study over a 14-year period (2003-2016) was performed. RESULTS: The study included 176 patients with SJS (n = 59), SJS-TEN overlap (n = 51), and TEN (n = 66). During hospitalization, bacteremia developed in 52 patients (29.5%), who experienced poorer outcomes, including higher intensive care unit admission (P < .0005), longer length of stay (P < .0005), and higher mortality (P < .0005). There were 112 episodes of bacteremia, and isolates included Acinetobacter baumannii (27.7%, n = 31) and Staphylococcus aureus (21.4%, n = 24). On multivariate analysis, clinical factors present at admission that were predictive of bacteremia included hemoglobin ≤10 g/dL (odds ratio [OR] 2.4, confidence interval [CI] 2.2-2.6), existing cardiovascular disease (OR 2.10, CI 2.0-2.3), and body surface area involvement ≥10% (OR 14.3, CI 13.4-15.2). The Bacteremia Risk Score was constructed with good calibration. Hypothermia (P = .03) and procalcitonin ≥1 µg/L (P = .02) concurrent with blood culture sampling were predictive of blood culture positivity. LIMITATIONS: This is a retrospective study performed in a reference center. CONCLUSION: Hemoglobin ≤10 g/dL, cardiovascular disease, and body surface area involvement ≥10% on admission were risk factors for bacteremia. Hypothermia and elevated procalcitonin are useful markers for the timely detection of bacteremia.

Report of a Leprosy case in Singapore: an age-old disease not to be forgotten in developed countries with low-prevalence settings.

INTRODUCTION: Leprosy is rarely reported in developed countries with low-prevalence settings. Its diagnosis may be missed due to its low frequency in non-endemic regions, as well as its long incubation period. The report describes an imported leprosy case of a healthcare worker in Singapore. CASE PRESENTATION: A Filipino nursing personnel presented with a persistent non-tender erythematous plaque over his right upper back for many years despite topical treatment. He had the lesion before coming to Singapore but decided to seek medical consultation only after the lesion progressed with new erythematous papules developing over his face, trunk and upper limbs. Punch biopsies of skin lesions revealed fite-positive bacilli, which were identified to be Mycobacterium leprae by GenoType LepraeDR v1 assay (Hain LifeScience, Germany). No mutation was detected at rpoB (rifampicin), gyrA (ofloxacin) and folP1 (dapsone) gene targets. He was started on multi-drug therapy and responded to the treatment. The only prolonged close contact he had was his housemate who was screened and given a single dose of rifampicin as chemoprophylaxis. CONCLUSION: In non-endemic settings, awareness is crucial in diagnosing leprosy. The availability of molecular testing and multi-disciplinary management are essential in the confirmation and control of this disease of public health importance.