title: [Contact allergy to antiseptics: 75 cases analyzed by the dermato-allergovigilance network (Revidal)].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the clinical features of contact dermatitis caused by antiseptics and to ascertain whether the substance responsible is the antiseptic itself or the excipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter, retrospective study based on analysis of all cases reported over a 2-year period to the Dermato-Allergology Vigilance network known as Revidal. Each dossier contained details of the clinical characteristics of lesions, the incriminated antiseptic, the mode of exposure and the results of patch tests done with the antiseptic in question.
  
  
  RESULTS
  75 patients (mean age: 44 years) were sensitized to chlorhexidine (14 cases), hexamidine (20 cases), povidone iodine (14 cases), mercuric antiseptics (3 cases), triclocarban (Septivon, 17 cases), hexamidine-chlorhexidine-chlorocresol (Cytéal, 4 cases), or chlorhexidine surfactant (Hibiscrub), cetrimide or chlorhexidine digluconate (Diaseptyl) (1 case each). Exposure was therapy-related (68 cases), work-related (6 cases; 5 in health workers and 1 in a cattle farmer due to povidone-iodine) or related to cosmetics (1 case, hexamidine). The clinical features consisted mainly of localized contact dermatitis, although generalized eczema occurred in 9 cases due to hexamidine contact. Sensitization was due to the antiseptic itself (53 cases) or to the excipients alone (22 cases), particularly in the 17 cases caused by Septivon. In 27/75 cases (35%), patients exhibited polysensitization to antiseptics belonging to different chemical classes or to other topical drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sensitization to antiseptics is probably not rare, with various sources of exposure being present in everyday life. Patch tests are essential for diagnosis in order to distinguish between antiseptic-related and excipient-related sensitization and to screen for polysensitization to topical drugs.
authors.affiliation: Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital Fournier, Nancy. a.barbaud@chu-nancy.fr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbaud
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vigan
authors.forename: J-L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Delrous
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Assier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Avenel-Audran
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Collet
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dehlemmes
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dutartre
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Géraut
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Girardin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Coz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Milpied-Homsi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nassif
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pons-Guiraud
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Raison-Peyron
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005079:Excipients / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010328:Patch Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D005079:Excipients