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Updated: Jun 29, 2026
12:18
Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Published on: February 9, 2011
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and Staphylococcus aureus colonization.
Victoria Nguyen1, Richard H Huggins, Terakeith Lertsburapa
1Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
|October 7, 2008
Summary
Staphylococcus aureus (S aureus) colonization was assessed in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) patients and controls. While not statistically significant, CTCL patients showed a trend toward higher S aureus colonization, potentially linked to disease severity.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) patients frequently experience bacterial infections.
- Staphylococcus aureus is the predominant pathogen causing skin infections in CTCL patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine and compare Staphylococcus aureus (S aureus) colonization rates in CTCL patients versus control groups.
- To investigate the potential relationship between S aureus colonization and the extent of CTCL.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 50 CTCL patients, 25 psoriasis patients, and 25 healthy controls.
- S aureus colonization was assessed via culture swabs from nasal passages and skin lesions (or normal skin in healthy controls).
Main Results:
- S aureus colonization rates were observed at 44% in CTCL subjects, 48% in psoriasis subjects, and 28% in healthy controls.
- The observed differences in colonization rates did not reach statistical significance (P = .29).
Conclusions:
- A trend suggested higher methicillin-sensitive S aureus colonization in CTCL patients compared to healthy controls.
- Limitations include a small sample size and exclusion criteria potentially underestimating colonization rates.
- S aureus colonization may correlate with the body surface area affected by CTCL.
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