Serious Complications from Staphylococcal aureus in Atopic Dermatitis

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2015

Publication Title

Pediatric dermatology

Abstract

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.

Medical Subject Headings

Adolescent; Age Distribution; Arthritis, Infectious; Bacteremia; Bacterial Toxins; Child; Child, Preschool; Conjunctivitis; Dermatitis, Atopic; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Pneumonia, Staphylococcal; Prognosis; Risk Assessment; Sex Distribution; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; United States

PubMed ID

26337792

Volume

32

Issue

6

First Page

792

Last Page

796

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