Related Experiment Videos
Micrococcus folliculitis in HIV-1 disease
K J Smith1, R Neafie, J Yeager
1Departments of Dermatology and Pathology, National Naval Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20889-5600, USA. HSkelIII@aol.com
The British Journal of Dermatology
|December 3, 1999
Summary
Infections caused by Micrococcus species, typically harmless, can occur in individuals with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. These localized skin infections present as itchy, ulcerated lesions in advanced HIV-1 disease.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Dermatology
Background:
- Immunocompromised individuals, particularly those with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), are susceptible to opportunistic infections.
- Cutaneous manifestations are common in advanced HIV-1 disease, often caused by unusual pathogens.
Observation:
- Three patients with advanced HIV-1 disease presented with chronic, pruritic papules and central ulcerations on the face and arms.
- The lesions persisted for months without progressing to sepsis.
Findings:
- Biopsies revealed large Gram-positive cocci in tetrads, identified as Micrococcus species.
- Micrococcus, typically a skin commensal, was differentiated from Staphylococcus using colony morphology, catalase, coagulase tests, and nitrofurantoin resistance.
Implications:
- Micrococcus species should be considered as potential causative agents of localized cutaneous infections in HIV-1 patients.
- This highlights the importance of identifying even typically non-pathogenic organisms in immunocompromised hosts.
- Further research into the pathogenesis of Micrococcus skin infections in HIV-1 is warranted.