Background: There have been many reports on microbial contamination of antiseptics and disinfectant used in the hospitals. Mid to low level disinfectants such as chlorhexidine gluconate, quaternary ammonium, phenols and benzalkonium are reported to be the one with high risk of microbial contamination. We investigated microbial contamination of 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate solution used in our hospital. Methods: 0,05% chlorhexidine gluconate solution and 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate cotton balls used in the general ward and intensive care unit were randomly collected for microbial culture. Also, sterile water, 20% chlorhexidine gluconate and staining solution, which is mixed in the preparation room to make 0,05% chlorhexidine gluconate solutions, were collected for bacterial culture to evaluate the focus of microbial contamination. Results: Total of 31 chlorhexidine gluconate samples was randomly collected from general wards. intensive care unit and preparation room for microbial culture. Seven of thirteen 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate solution and 5 of twelve 0.05% chlorhexidine soaked cotton balls kept in a canister were contaminated by Burkholderia cepacia. Sterile water used for dilution of 20% chlorhexidine gluconate to make 0.05% chlorhexidine and originally purchased 20% chlorhexidine gluconate were not contaminated by microorganism. But staining solution that is used as an additive to differentiate from other diluted disinfectants was contaminated by Bukholderia cepacia. 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate solutions that were mixed in the preparation room were also contaminated by same organism. Source of contamination was thought to be staining solution. All the previously made chlorhexidine. solutions and staining solution were discarded. Staining solution was not used afterward. Several processes in the handling of chlorthexidine solution were corrected and no microbial contamination was found afterward. Conclusion: Diluted chlorthexidine gluconate solutions are always under a risk of microbial contamination if any of the process in the handling is overlooked. Staining solution as an additive to disinfectants should be used carefully.
Ammonium Compounds ; Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; Benzalkonium Compounds ; Burkholderia cepacia ; Chlorhexidine* ; Disinfectants ; Intensive Care Units ; Patients' Rooms ; Phenol ; Phenols ; Water

BACKGROUND: Drug reactions are common problems in hospital inpatients and outpatients. Reliable diagnosis is essential but often difficult. OBJECTIVE: This study attempts to define the clinical features and causative drugs in the patients with drug eruptions, and to evaluate the diagnostic value of skin tests. METHODS: Sixty one patients with drug eruptions were reviewed clinically. In 18 patients, patch and prick tests were performed using suspected drugs. RESULTS: 1. The highest incidence of drug eruptions was observed in the third and forth decades(44.2%) and there was no sexual prodominence. 2. The most frequent latent peroid was 4 hours to 1 week(49.2%). 3. The common morphological features were exanthematous eruptions(57.3%), urticaria(14.8%) and fixed drug eruptoins(11.5%). 4. The major causative drugs were antibiotics(cephalosporin, ampicillin), antipyretics/anti-inflammatory analgesics(aspirin, piroxicam) and CNS depressants(diphenylhydantoin). 5. Clinical manifestations according to possible causative drugs were as follows; exanthematous eruptions by antibiotics, antipyretics/analgesics, herbs, CNS depressants, propylthiouracil and captopril; urticaria by antibiotics and herbs; fixed drug eruption by sulfonamide, antipyretics/analgesics and phenobarbital; acneiform eruptions by diphenylhydantoin and isoniazid; Stevens-Johnson syndrome by ampicillin, sulfonamide, aspirin and piroxicam, erythema nodosum by sulfonamide, and lichenoid drug eruptions by propylthiouracil. 6. Positivity to patch and prick tests was shown in 2 of the 18 patients and in 1 of 18 patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent clinical feature of the drug eruptions were exanthematous in nature and the most common causative drugs were antibiotics, as suspected. To search for the causative drug of the drug eruption, the only usual methods of patch and prick tests were not sufficient in our study.
Acneiform Eruptions ; Ampicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Aspirin ; Captopril ; Central Nervous System Depressants ; Diagnosis ; Drug Eruptions* ; Erythema Nodosum ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inpatients ; Isoniazid ; Outpatients ; Patch Tests ; Phenobarbital ; Phenytoin ; Piroxicam ; Propylthiouracil ; Skin Tests* ; Skin* ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome ; Urticaria

BACKGROUND: Acne is a common chronic disease which most frequently affects the face. This visibility is a major cause for concern in affected individuals. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality of life of patients with acne. METHODS: We interviewed 130 acne patients, and determined the impact of acne on the quality of life with a questionnare. RESULTS: Among 130 cases of acne, the numbers of male and female patients were 52(40.0%) and 78(60.0%) respectively, and tbe mean age was 21 years. There was no difference between the sexes in the quality of life criteria used. The scores of social criteria of patients older than 20 years were significantly higher than thme of patients younger than 20 years. The severity of facial acne was correlated with the severity of chest acne but not with that of back acne. The severity of chest acne was correlated with that of back acne. The severity of facial acne was correlated with the scores of the physical, social and psychological criteria, and the severity of chest acne was correlated with that of physical and social criteria. However, the severity of back acne was not correlated with those of any of the criteria. The psychological well-being of the patients was moderately or highly affected by the acne more often than the other criteria. CONCLUSION: Acne has a substantial impact on the quality of life. The practical use of these indices are: (1) reveal areas of particulur concern in patients with acne; (2) to identify individuals who may require more intensive treaiment; and (3) to give a patient oriented inforrnation on the quality of life expected.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Quality of Life* ; Thorax

Angioma serpiginosum is a rare acquired naevoid disorder, characterized by minute red or purple punta that are frequently arranged in serpiginous patterns in the lower extremities and buttocks. It usually begins in childhood and is more common in females. Histopathologically, thin-walled capillaries in the dermal papillae and the superficial reticular dermis are widely dilated without extravasation of red blood cells. We report a case of angioma serpiginosum on the lateral aspect of the right arm along the lines of Blaschko in a 36-year-old woman.
Adult ; Arm ; Buttocks ; Capillaries ; Dermis ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Lower Extremity

The anti-inflammatory activity of a corticosteroid may mask the contact allergic reaction it is causing. This may be an important reason why contact allergy to corticosteroids has often been missed. A simple persistent aggravation of a dermatitis in a patient treated with one or more topical corticosteroids is sufficient to raise a suspicion of corticosteroid hypersensitivity. A 23-year-old male visited our department for the evaluation of his aggravated pruritic oozing erythematous papules, scales and edema of the face. Previously, he was treated with Dermatop ointment and Plancollotion. A Patch test showed positive reactions to prednicarbate 10%, 1%, hydrocortisone-17-butyrate 10%, and triamcinolone 10%. We conclude prednicarbate in Dermatop ointment, hydrocortisone-17-butyrate in Plancol lotion to be the etiological agents.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Edema ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Male ; Masks ; Patch Tests ; Triamcinolone ; Weights and Measures ; Young Adult

Membranous lipodystrophy is a peculiar type of fat necrosis, present in patients with various types of skin diseases. It is charaeterized by the presence of microcysts and macrocysts lined by amorphous eosinophilic material with a crenelated arabesque appearance and microgranules in the subcutis with massive fat necrosis. The eosinophilic lining and microgranules stain positively with periodic acid-Schiff, are resistant to diastase, and also stain with Sudan black B. We report three cases of subcutanous membranous lipodystrophy in patients with erythema induratum, posttraumatic panniculitis and morphea with typical clinical and histopathologic findings.
Amylases ; Eosinophils ; Erythema Induratum ; Fat Necrosis ; Humans ; Lipodystrophy* ; Panniculitis ; Scleroderma, Localized ; Skin Diseases ; Sudan

We report a case of solitary congenital calcified nodule of the ear in a 1-year-old female. The lesion was a 2 X 2mm-sized, elevated, slightly erythematous and whitish-centered nodule located since birth on the superior helical rim of her left ear. Histopathological findings fram the totally excised lesion showed calcium deposits as amorphous, basophilic masses in the upper dermis and focal discharge of calcium by means of transepidermal elimination. Surrounding the calcium deposits, lymphohistiocytic infiltrations were present.
Basophils ; Calcium ; Dermis ; Ear* ; Female ; Humans ; Parturition

No abstract available.
Carrier State*

Eosinophilic panniculitis is characterized by a prominent infiltration of numerous eosinophils in subcutaneous fat, and has been identified in patients with a variety of associated clinical conditions. A case of eosinophilic panniculitis in a 20-year-old woman with a history of atopic dermatitis is reported. She later developed superior sagittal sinus thrombosis, and we stress the importance of systemic evaluations in patients with eosinophilic panniculitis.
Dermatitis, Atopic ; Eosinophils* ; Female ; Humans ; Panniculitis* ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Superior Sagittal Sinus* ; Thrombosis* ; Young Adult

We report two cases showing typical clinical features of subcutaneous granuloma annulare. Clinically, rapidly growing non-tender subcutaneous nodules developed on the scalp of healthy children without histories of trauma or infection. Histopathologically, collagen degeneration surrounded by histiocytes and lymphocytes in a palisading arrangement were seen in the deep dermis and subcutaneous layer. The foci of degeneration contained pale and edematous basophilic mucinous deposits. The skin lesions resolved spontaneously without specific treatment. Subcutaneous granuloma annulare should be considered in the differential diagnosis of children presenting with soft tissue masses.
Basophils ; Child ; Collagen ; Dermis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Granuloma Annulare* ; Granuloma* ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Mucins ; Scalp ; Skin