Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Protocol to Create Chronic Wounds in Diabetic Mice
06:55

Protocol to Create Chronic Wounds in Diabetic Mice

Published on: September 25, 2019

Pyoderma gangrenosum and Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in a diabetic man: pathogenic role or coincidence?

S A Vannucci1, W M Mitchell, C W Stratton

  • 1Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-5227, USA.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
|January 22, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Chlamydia pneumoniae, a rare cause of skin issues, was linked to chronic pyoderma gangrenosum-like lesions in a diabetic patient. Antibiotic treatment targeting this pathogen led to complete lesion resolution, suggesting a causal link.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Dermatology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Chlamydia pneumoniae is an uncommon pathogen, not typically associated with cutaneous manifestations.
  • Diabetic patients are susceptible to unusual infections, often presenting with chronic or refractory conditions.
  • Pyoderma gangrenosum-like (PG-like) lesions can be idiopathic and challenging to treat.

Observation:

  • A diabetic patient presented with multiple, treatment-refractory PG-like lesions.
  • Chlamydia pneumoniae (C pneumoniae) was identified in the patient via serologic tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Findings:

  • Prolonged anti-chlamydial antibiotic therapy resulted in the complete resolution of the PG-like lesions.
  • Concomitant decrease in C pneumoniae serologic titers and PCR results supported the treatment efficacy.
  • These findings suggest C pneumoniae as the causative agent for the patient's PG-like lesions.

Implications:

  • This case expands the spectrum of diseases associated with Chlamydia pneumoniae infections.
  • It highlights the importance of considering atypical pathogens in refractory dermatological conditions, especially in immunocompromised or diabetic patients.
  • The study suggests a potential therapeutic strategy for similar cases involving C pneumoniae.

Related Concept Videos

Sexually Transmitted Infections01:26

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:30

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection that targets the lungs, specifically the alveoli. These tiny air sacs, essential for oxygen exchange, become engorged with pus and fluid, severely hindering breathing, decreasing oxygen absorption, and causing significant pain and discomfort during respiration.
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae01:29

Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae

The phylum Chlamydiae or Chlamydiota is composed of a single order, Chlamydiales. This phylum consists entirely of obligate intracellular parasites that infect eukaryotic hosts. While human pathogens within this group have been studied extensively, the phylum encompasses many species capable of interacting with various eukaryotic organisms. Members of Chlamydiae are typically small cocci, approximately 0.5 μm in diameter, and exhibit a distinctive developmental cycle. As is characteristic of...
Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...
Complications of Diabetes Mellitus01:22

Complications of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia due to insulin deficiency, resistance, or both. Prolonged hyperglycemia disrupts metabolic homeostasis and leads to acute and chronic complications.Acute ComplicationsAcute complications result from sudden metabolic imbalance.Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) mainly appears in type 1 diabetes but may also develop in type 2 diabetes, particularly under extreme stress. It arises from severe insulin deficiency,...
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:29

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...