Countering Staphylococcus Overgrowth During Patch Testing in Children with Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis

Patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) often have a concurrent diagnosis of contact dermatitis, but patch testing in these patients presents a unique set of challenges. Barrier impairment and Staphylococcus aureus colonization and infection, along with the sealed occlusion that takes place during the patch testing procedure, can create an optimal environment for bacterial overgrowth.

To identify patients at risk for S. aureus overgrowth during patch testing and provide pre- and peripatch testing interventions to aid clinicians in obtaining the best possible patch test results in this complicated population.

A retrospective review was performed of five patients with moderate to severe AD for which S. aureus overgrowth and superinfection complicated patch test evaluation.

All five patients were able to complete the patch test procedure and all had relevant positive patch test reactions. Complications during patch testing included erythema, oozing, foul odor under the patches, and purulent material at the patch sites. One patient had a culture performed during patch testing that showed methicillin-sensitive S. aureus.

Patch testing can play an important role in the examination and management of patients with refractory AD.

Moderate to severe AD and concern regarding S. aureus overgrowth should not preclude patch testing.