A 70 year old male patient who is obese and suffering from diabetes presents with a scaly skin lesion in the axilla.KOH examination from the lesion is negative and Wood light examination reveals coral-red fluorescence of lesions.
What is the treatment of choice ?
A. Mupirocin ointment.
B. Fusidic acid ointment.
C. Azole cream.
D. Topical Erythromycin
Show Answer
Correct Answer ยป D
Explanation
Ans:D. Topical Erythromycin.
The patient in question is suffering from Erythrasma.
Erythrasma
It is a chronic superficial infection of the intertriginous areas of the skin.
The incriminated organism is Corynebacterium minutissimum, which usually is present as a normal human skin inhabitant.
individuals.
The typical appearance of erythrasma is well-demarcated, brown-red macular patches.
The skin has a wrinkled appearance with fine scales
Infection commonly is located on the inner thighs, crural region, scrotum, and toe webs. The axillae, submammary area, periumbilical region, and intergluteal folds are less commonly involved in erythrasma.
Predisposing factors for erythrasma include the following:
Excessive sweating/hyperhidrosis
Delicate cutaneous barrier
Obesity
Diabetes mellitus
Warm climate
Poor hygiene
Advanced age
Other immunocompromised states.
It is highly recommended to perform a direct KOH examination to exclude fungal infection.
Wood light examination of erythrasma lesions reveals coral-red fluorescence of lesions.
Erythromycin is the drug of choice. Infection may be treated with topical and/or oral agents
