Epidemiological, bacteriological and complicating features of erysipelas.
233 patients with erysipelas, admitted to the Department of Infectious Diseases, Danderyd Hospital, during a 2-year period were analysed for epidemiological, bacteriological and complicating features. Erysipelas was defined clinically as a febrile skin infection with a sudden onset of a red indurated expanding plaque with a distinct border. Common predisposing factors were alcohol abuse, diabetes mellitus and venous insufficiency, and complications were more common among such patients. No seasonal variation was found. 5% of patients with blood culture had streptococcemia (7/149). Erysipelas emerging from an infected ulcer was seen in 52% (122/233) and in 46% of these streptococci were isolated (57/122), 67% of which were of type A (38/57). Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 59% of ulcerative cases (72/122) and in 3 of them staphylococci were found in the blood.
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D004886:Erysipelas / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification