title: Skin and soft tissue infections in returning travelers.
abstract: Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) are a leading cause of cutaneous problems in travelers. Sixty travelers who presented with an SSTI were prospectively included over a 20-month period. Bacterial analysis and research for Panton-Valentine leukocidine (PVL) were performed according to clinical and bacterial presentation. The SSTI appeared abroad in 73% and were predominantly localized on lower limbs (75%). The main clinical forms were impetigo (35%) and cutaneous absess (23%). Insect bites were significantly associated with impetigo and ecthyma. Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) was identified in 15 patients (43%), Group A Streptococcus (GAS) in 12 patients (34%), and an association of both in 8 (23%) among the 35 patients for whom bacteria were identified. The MSSA producing PVL were found in 4 patients. Travelers should be advised on how to prevent arthropod exposure and susceptibility testing should be recommended considering that methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is increasingly reported, although not identified in our study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious and Tropical Disease, Hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France. patrick.hochedez@free.fr
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hochedez
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Canestri
authors.forename: Marylin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lecso
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Valin
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bricaire
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caumes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D000368:Aged; D001208:Asia; D017691:Caribbean Region; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009656:North America; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013020:South America; D014195:Travel; D055815:Young Adult