1. Infections of scleroderma digital ulcers: A single center cohort retrospective study.
- Author
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Giuggioli, Dilia, Magnani, Luca, Spinella, Amelia, Bajocchi, Gianluigi, Palermo, Adalgisa, Lumetti, Federica, Cocchiara, Emanuele, and Salvarani, Carlo
- Subjects
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SYSTEMIC scleroderma , *COHORT analysis , *PSEUDOMONAS aeruginosa , *STAPHYLOCOCCUS aureus - Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune and up to 50% of patients develop digital ulcers. We revised fifty consecutive patients with SSc-related digital ulcers (DUs) who referred to our Scleroderma Unit. Thirty-five of them who showed clear signs of DUs infection underwent to cutaneous swab and microbiological data collection. We performed 87 cutaneous swabs overall. DUs were recurrent in 58% of the patients and multiple in 60% of patients. Fourty-four swabs (53%) were positive for Staphylococcus aureus (13% Methicillin-Resistant), 9 (10%) were positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and then the others less frequently isolated. Nine patients (25%) needed hospitalization. Our data support a patient-tailored approached to DUs, particularly those infected. Selfhygiene and asepsis during dressing procedures are mandatory. Patient must be trained to avoid dangerous behaviors and reduce the risk of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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