Bullous impetigo in homosexual men--a risk marker for HIV-1 infection?
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of bullous impetigo in a group of homosexual men at high risk of HIV-1 infection.


METHODS
A longitudinal descriptive study (1984-9).


METHODS
A private primary care and STD clinic in Sydney, Australia.


METHODS
88 homosexual men documented to seroconvert to HIV-1, and 37 homosexual controls who had practised unprotected anal intercourse with another man known to be HIV-1 positive but who remained HIV-1 negative.


METHODS
Incidence of bullous impetigo.


RESULTS
The crude annual incidence of bullous impetigo was 0.015 in subjects while they remained HIV-1 negative (10 cases) and 0.045 in early HIV-1 positive subjects (2 cases). Overall, 9% of the HIV-1 seroconverters and 9% of the HIV-1 negative controls were documented as suffering bullous impetigo over a mean of 29.2 and 39.3 months, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Bullous impetigo in an adult could prove to be a clinical indication that a person is either infected with HIV-1 or is in close (possibly sexual) contact with a person with HIV-1 infection. If true, the recognition of bullous impetigo could provide an opportunity for behavioural intervention to limit the spread of HIV-1.
Donovan
B
B
Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Sydney Hospital, Australia.
Rohrsheim
R
R
Bassett
I
I
Mulhall
B P
BP
D001315:Australia; D002081:Buttocks; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007169:Impetigo / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology