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Countering Staphylococcus Overgrowth During Patch Testing in Children with Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis
Author(s) -
Admani Shehla,
Matiz Catalina,
Jacob Sharon E.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
pediatric dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.542
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1525-1470
pISSN - 0736-8046
DOI - 10.1111/pde.12723
Subject(s) - medicine , patch testing , staphylococcus aureus , patch test , dermatology , atopic dermatitis , erythema , superinfection , skin patch , population , contact dermatitis , allergy , surgery , immunology , virus , environmental health , biology , bacteria , genetics
Background Patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) often have a concurrent diagnosis of contact dermatitis, but patch testing in these patients presents a unique set of challenges. Barrier impairment and Staphylococcus aureus colonization and infection, along with the sealed occlusion that takes place during the patch testing procedure, can create an optimal environment for bacterial overgrowth. Aims To identify patients at risk for S. aureus overgrowth during patch testing and provide pre‐ and peripatch testing interventions to aid clinicians in obtaining the best possible patch test results in this complicated population. Materials and Methods A retrospective review was performed of five patients with moderate to severe AD for which S. aureus overgrowth and superinfection complicated patch test evaluation. Results All five patients were able to complete the patch test procedure and all had relevant positive patch test reactions. Complications during patch testing included erythema, oozing, foul odor under the patches, and purulent material at the patch sites. One patient had a culture performed during patch testing that showed methicillin‐sensitive S. aureus . Discussion Patch testing can play an important role in the examination and management of patients with refractory AD. Conclusions Moderate to severe AD and concern regarding S. aureus overgrowth should not preclude patch testing.