Chondritis attributable to Lactobacillus after ear piercing.
A diabetic patient was admitted with ear pain and purulent discharge after "high ear piercing" by a friend. After investigation she was found to have chondritis, complicated by an abscess. Wound cultures grew Lactobacillus species. Patient responded to parenteral antibiotics without suffering cosmetic deformity. Sterile technique, adherence to post-piercing ear hygiene, and avoiding piercing the auricular cartilage may prevent complications associated with ear piercing. Lactobacillus should be included in the differential of pathogens involved in post-piercing chondritis.
Razavi
B
B
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City 52242, USA. Razavib@mail.medicine.uiowa.edu
Schilling
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002969:Clavulanic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004425:Ear Cartilage / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013982:Ticarcillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
D002969:Clavulanic Acids; C043215:ticarcillin-clavulanic acid; D013982:Ticarcillin