Knox K, Howe P, Conlon C, Edwards A, Byren I; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1996 Jul 7-12; 11: 102 (abstract no. Mo.B.1278).
Harrison Dept, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK. Fax: 1865-224378.
Objective: We report a case of Corynebacterium striatum skin ulceration in an African patient with advanced HIV infection. Case Report: A 27 year old Ugandan man resident in the United Kingdom, who tested HIV-positive in 1990, presented with a 1 month history of a profusely discharging 7cm x 5cm ulcerating lesion on his thigh. He was afebrile and had no systemic symptoms or signs. His CD4 count was 0.06 x 109/litre, neutrophil count 1.67 x 109/litre and he had been poorly compliant with PCP prophylaxis and anti-retroviral therapy. Biopsies, vesicle fluid and swabs from the lesion showed a profuse pure growth of C. striatum. Stains and cultures for viruses, mycobacteria and fungi were negative. Blood cultures were negative. The lesion responded rapidly to oral erythromycin but recurred on stopping. Swabs again demonstrated C. striatum which resolved on intravenous vancomycin followed by teicoplanin. Conclusion: C. striatum, a skin coloniser, is a rare cause of infection in immunosuppressed and immunocompetent patients. We believe this is the first case of an isolated skin lesion occurring in advanced HIV infection unaccompanied by neutropenia or bacteremia. The isolation of a profuse pure growth of C. striatum from biopsies and vesicle fluid with a rapid response to antibiotics suggests that the organism was the cause of the lesion.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Anti-Bacterial Agents
- Bacteremia
- Corynebacterium
- Corynebacterium Infections
- Great Britain
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Humans
- Male
- Neutropenia
- Skin
- Skin Ulcer
- Vancomycin
Other ID:
UI: 102217241
From Meeting Abstracts