[Erysipelas. A retrospective series of 92 patients in a department of internal medicine].
Erysipleas, also known as Saint Anthony's fire, is an acute infection of the skin caused, in most of cases, by group A streptococci. In the past, the most common site of involvement was the face and, in the pre-antibiotic era, mortality was high. In this retrospective study, we highlight the clinical and bacteriological features and report follow-up in 92 patients hospitalized in an internal medicine unit between 1st March 1992 and 31st December 1996 for 94 episodes of erysipelas. The involvement of the lower limbs predominated as involvement of the face is becoming very rare. Streptococci from others groups and Staphylococcus aureus have been implicated on occasions. Recovery is usual even if this infection may greatly weaken these often fragilized patients. In this paper, antibiotic treatment as well as the place of anticoagulants and Doppler ultrasound are discussed. Hospitalization is often necessary but it must not be systematic.
Jégo
P
P
Service de Médecine Interne, Hôpital Sud, Rennes.
Resche
S
S
Karacatsanis
C
C
Le Strat
A
A
Bouget
J
J
Minet
J
J
Grosbois
B
B
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004886:Erysipelas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D007868:Leg Dermatoses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000503:physiopathology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000502:physiology; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants