title: Bacterial interdigital scaly erythema (Kitamura): a possible new clinical entity.
abstract: Four patients with scaly erythema on their finger webs and sides of their fingers during summer are described. These patients were working in either butcher's shops or a sushi bar, where they handled raw meat, chicken or fish for many hours. The eruptions first appeared as scaly erythema, sometimes accompanied by small pustules, on the second, third and fourth finger webs, and later the erythema extended to the sides of the fingers and palms. Maceration and/or shallow erosion sometimes appeared on the finger webs. Symptoms were usually mild; the patients complained of slight itching, irritation or pain. Direct examination of specimens stained with Parker blue-black ink containing KOH revealed scales containing bacterial granules or filaments. Several species of bacteria were cultured including Corynebacterium sp. Fungus was not detected in either KOH specimens or in cultures. The lesions responded rapidly to topical or oral antibiotics; however, they recurred frequently during hot and humid weather. Hitherto a similar condition has not been described and is possibly a new clinical entity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mochizuki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kinebuchi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishizaki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kitamura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001407:Bacillus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003352:Corynebacterium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004890:Erythema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005839:Gentamicins