Korean J Dermatol.
1996 Aug;34(4):546-554.
The Incidence and Culture of Erythrasma in Korea
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Pusan, Korea.
Abstract
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BACKGROUND: The authors did not find any study about erythrasma in Korea, where as there are several studies about the incidence and bacteriology of erythrasma in some areas. Failure to differentially diagnose the clinical entities of tinea pedis versus erythrasma can lead to mistreatment and disability because of the clinical similarities.
OBJECTIVE
This study was carried out to investigate the incidence of erythrasma according to the seasons and sites, to determine the useful culture media, and to evaluate the antibiotic sensitivities and the treatment responses.
METHODS
The incidence of erythrasma was investigated among the unselected dermatologic patients. The axillae, groins and toewebs were examined under Wood's light. The scale showing characteristic coral-red fborescence was Gram-stained and Corynebacterium minutissimnm was cultured using Loeffler slant media, Brucella blood agar plates and usual blood agar plates.
RESULTS
Clinical erythrasma was found in 26.7% of the 240 patients examined. The incidences of erythrasma in summer and fall were higher than winter In the bacteriologic study Gram positive cocco-bacilli were found in all erythrasma patients and Corynebacterium minutissimum was cultured and identified in 24 0%. Most of cultured causative organisms were sensitive to usual antibiotics in the clinical uses. The average interval from the oral administration of erythrasma to the loss of coral-red fluorescence was 4.1 weeks, and the patients in severe erythrasma group were needed more time(2.2 weeks) for clinical improvement than the patients in mild one.
CONCLUSION
Erythrasma is common in the dermatologic patients and it is important to differentially cliagnose the clinical entities of tinea pedis versus erythrasma.
