Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2025
11:00
Methods to Inhibit Bacterial Pyomelanin Production and Determine the Corresponding Increase in Sensitivity to Oxidative Stress
Published on: August 31, 2015
8.3K
Hyperpigmentation on head and neck caused by polymyxin B: A rare case
F Kaya1, E Tuğcugil2
1Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Ahi Evren Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Health Sciences University Trabzon, Trabzon, Turkey.
Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice
|October 4, 2023
Summary
Polymyxin B, an antibiotic for resistant gram-negative infections, can rarely cause skin hyperpigmentation. This side effect may be more likely in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Polymyxin B is a critical antibiotic for treating multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections.
- While effective, Polymyxin B is associated with potential adverse effects, including rare instances of skin hyperpigmentation.
Observation:
- A case report details a 68-year-old male patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- The patient developed pneumonia caused by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, necessitating treatment with Polymyxin B.
- Hyperpigmentation of the face and neck appeared rapidly, on the second day of Polymyxin B administration.
Findings:
- The patient exhibited rapid-onset hyperpigmentation following initiation of Polymyxin B therapy.
- Pre-existing chronic kidney disease in the patient may have contributed to the cumulative effect and development of hyperpigmentation.
Implications:
- This case highlights hyperpigmentation as a rare but possible adverse effect of Polymyxin B.
- Clinicians should consider the potential for skin hyperpigmentation, particularly in patients with impaired renal function, when prescribing Polymyxin B.
- Awareness of this side effect is crucial for timely diagnosis and management in clinical practice.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives
2.0K
The first thing a clinician sees is the skin, so the examination of the skin should be part of any thorough physical examination. Most skin disorders are relatively benign, but a few, including melanomas, can be fatal if untreated. A couple of the more noticeable disorders, albinism and vitiligo, affect the appearance of the skin and its accessory organs.
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
2.0K
01:19Pigmentation
2.5K
The color of the skin is influenced by a number of pigments, including melanin, carotene, and hemoglobin. Recall that melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes, which are found scattered throughout the stratum basale of the epidermis. The melanin is transferred to the keratinocytes via melanosomes.
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
2.5K