title: Fusospirochetosis causing necrotic oral ulcers in patients with HIV infection.
abstract: Under certain permissive circumstances, normally occurring fusiform bacteria and Borrelia spirochetes can result in a symbiotic overgrowth that leads to necrotic oral ulcers (stomatitis), gingivitis, and periodontitis. These lesions are collectively known as oral fusospirochetosis and may be under-appreciated in patients with HIV infection and AIDS. Fusospirochetal oral ulcers in patients with HIV are often large, necrotic, and malodorous; they respond completely to penicillin. We report 3 patients with HIV infection and fusospirochetal ulcerative stomatitis and review the clinical presentation, microbiologic diagnosis, potential pathogenesis, and treatment of these lesions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Elmhurst Hopsital Center, NY, USA. csalama@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salama
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Finch
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Bottone
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D000328:Adult; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005674:Fusobacterium Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005892:Gingivitis, Necrotizing Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013145:Spirochaetales Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015163:Superinfection / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination