Infection-causing bacteria found in hidradenitis suppurativa lesions

Bacteria responsible for causing skin and soft tissue infections has been found in hidradenitis suppurativa lesions, results of a recent study indicate.

Researchers in Paris prospectively studied the microbiology of 102 hidradenitis suppurativa lesions that had been sampled from 82 patients with bacterial cultures and bacterial metagenomics on six samples, according to the study abstract. The lesions were identified after microbiological analysis of all hidradenitis suppurativa lesions sampled from patients at the Institut Pasteur, Paris, from June 2007 to February 2011. Patients who had received systemic or topical antibiotic treatments during the month before sampling were excluded from the study.

The researchers found Staphylococcus lugdunensis as a unique or predominant isolate from 58 percent of hidradenitis suppurativa abscesses and nodules. There was polymicrobial anaerobic microflora, milleri group streptococci and actinomycetes in 24 percent of the abscesses and nodules, and in 87 percent of chronic suppurating lesions.

“These data show that bacteria known to cause soft tissue and skin infections are associated with HS (hidradenitis suppurativa) lesions,” study authors wrote. “Whether these pathogens are the cause of the lesions or are secondary infectious agents, these findings support targeted antimicrobial treatment of HS.”

The study findings were published in the December issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Reference: Guet-Revillet H, Coignard-Biehler H, Jais JP, et al. Bacterial pathogens associated with hidradenitis suppurativa, France. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014;20(12). http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/20/12/14-0064_article

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