DEPARTMENT OF DERMATO-VENEREOLOGY REFERAT

MEDICAL FACULTY APRIL 2017

PATTIMURA UNIVERSITY

ERYTHRASMA

Stazia Noija
2016 – 84 – 024

Advisor :
dr. Hanny Tanasal, Sp.KK

DERMATO-VENEREOLOGY DEPARTMENT
MEDICAL FACULTY OF PATTIMURA UNIVERSITY
AMBON
2017
INTRODUCTION

• Burchard (1859) • Clinical  >>

Erythrasma   Actynomycetes, asymptomatic,
chronic bacterial Nocardia eff : sharply
infection  minitussima marginated,
Corynebacterium • Sarkani (1962)  reddish brown
minutissimum  Corynebacterium macules, squama
intertriginous areas  Wood’s light
• Epidemiology 
?? • Treatment :
topical, systemic
DEFINITION

Erythrasma  superficial bacterial

infection of the skin  well-defined
but irregular reddish-brown patches
 intertriginous areas or by fissuring
and white maceration in the toe clefts
ETIOPATHOPHYSIOLOGY

Corynebacterium minutissimum

Local Proliferate of C. Thickening of the

environment minutissimum in stratum corneum
change the upper of the & keratin
stratum corneum degradation
RISK FACTORS

Humid/warm Poor hygiene

climate

Hyperhidrosis Obesity

Diabetes mellitus Advanced age

Immunosuppression
CLINICAL MANIFESTATION

>> asymptomatic, sometimes itch

Physical examination  well demarcated, reddish

brown macules, squama + hyperkeratotic, white
maceration, erosion, or fissures  excoriation and
lichenification.

>> intertriginous areas  axillae, groin, toe webs

 Next…

Figure 1. Hyperkeratosis with a yellowish hue in

the web space of the foot
Source : Goldsmith LA. Katz SI. Gilchrest BA. Paller AS. Leffell DJ, Wolff K. Fitzpatrick’s:
dermatology in general medicine. 8th edition. New York; McGraw-Hill: 2012.
 Next…

Figure 2. Well-demarcated reddish-brown patches in

the axilla A) and groin (B)
Source : Goldsmith LA. Katz SI. Gilchrest BA. Paller AS. Leffell DJ, Wolff K. Fitzpatrick’s:
dermatology in general medicine. 8th edition. New York; McGraw-Hill: 2012.
 Next …

Source : Burns T. Breathnach S. Cox N. Griffiths C.

Rook’s : textbook of dermatology. 8th edition. Oxford;
Blackwell Publishing: 2010.

Figure 3. Erythrasma in the axilla

DIAGNOSTIC TEST

Microscopic
(Gram
staining)
Wood’s Cultural
lamp

C. minutissimum
 A

Figure 4. Woods lamp examination revealing coral red

fluorescence in the axilla (A) and (B) left inguinal region
Source : Pinto M, et al. Clinical and epidemiological features of coryneform skin infections at a tertiary
hospital. Indian Dermatology Online Journal. 2016; 7: 171.
Morente GB, Santiago SA, Lopez IP, Lopez AM. Coral-red fluorescence of erythrasma plaque. Sultan Qaboos
University Med J. 2016; 16 (3): 382.
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS

Pityriasis Tinea Candida

versicolor infection
TREATMENT

• Benzoyl peroxide 5%
Topical • Clindamycin & erythromycin
solutions 2%
• Fusidic acid cream

Systemic •Erythromycin
•Clarithromycin
PROGNOSIS

May remain asymptomatic

for years or may undergo
periodic exacerbations

Relaps occasionaly occur

even after successful
antibiotic treatment
CONCLUSION
 Erythrasma is superficial bacterial infection of the
skin, more common asymptomatic with well
demarcated, reddish brown macules, squama but
must be confirmed with Wood’s light examination.
The optional treatment is topical and systemic drug.
THANK YOU