Serious Complications from Staphylococcal aureus in Atopic Dermatitis.
Colonization with Staphylococcal aureus is markedly more frequent in individuals with atopic dermatitis (AD) than in unaffected individuals. Chronic scratching leads to worsening of an existing defect in the epidermal barrier, which can allow S. aureus invasion into the bloodstream and subsequent systemic infections. We report two unusual cases of systemic illness in individuals with AD. One developed infective endocarditis followed by a stroke and the other developed septic arthritis and osteomyelitis. We performed an extensive literature review of reported systemic complications caused by S. aureus in patients with AD. Although reports are rare, practitioners should be aware of these important, albeit unlikely, complications of staphylococcal superinfections in individuals with AD.
Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Hospital, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan.
Devika
D
Patel
Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Hospital, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan.
Marla N
MN
Jahnke
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011023:Pneumonia, Staphylococcal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D001427:Bacterial Toxins