Where does Corynebacterium minutissimum come from?
Erythrasma is caused by the Corynebacterium minutissimum bacteria. The bacteria normally live on the skin and can grow in warm, moist areas. That’s why it’s commonly found in folds of the skin.
What bacteria causes erythrasma?
Erythrasma is a common chronic skin condition affecting the skin folds. The slowly enlarging patches of pink to brown dry skin are caused by an infection by the bacterium Corynebacterium minutissimum.
What does erythrasma smell like?
In people with bromhidrosis, bacteria on skin decompose sweat secretions, yielding a putrid smell. In those with erythroderma, proliferation of bacteria on scaly skin causes a musty stench. In erythrasma, unpleasant-smelling bacteria grow in skin folds.
Is erythrasma contagious to humans?
Anyone can get erythrasma, but it’s most common in adults and men. People who live in warm and humid climates are more likely to get erythrasma. It can affect other people with certain health conditions.
How do you treat Corynebacterium Minutissimum?
The treatment of choice is erythromycin 250 mg four times daily for 2 weeks. Topical clindamycin twice daily also can be used. For severe cases, a combination of oral erythromycin and topical antibiotics may be needed. Recurrence can be minimized by the use of an antibacterial soap.
How do I get rid of corynebacteria?
The goal is both to kill the organism and to terminate toxin production. Many antibiotics are effective, including penicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, rifampin, and tetracycline; erythromycin or penicillin is the treatment of choice and is usually given for 14 days.
How do I get rid of Corynebacterium?
Can erythrasma go away?
An erythrasma infection is typically self-limiting and will often resolve on its own without treatment.
Can erythrasma go away on its own?
An erythrasma infection is typically self-limiting and will often resolve on its own without treatment. While complications are rare, erythrasma can sometimes co-occur with contact dermatitis, a fungal infection, or an unrelated bacterial infection.
What part of the human body does Corynebacterium colonize?
Most commonly affected areas include heart, muscle, peripheral nerves, adrenal glands, kidneys, liver, and spleen (rather comprehensive).
Where is Corynebacterium found in the body?
They are ubiquitous and can be found on the skin and in the upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. The primary pathogen in this group is Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the etiologic agent of diphtheria. Additional corynebacteria include 45 species, 30 of which on rare occasion cause human disease.
What is the best treatment for erythrasma?
Oral erythromycin is usually effective and is a good second-line therapy, as is single-dose clarithromycin or amoxicillin-clavulanate, for systemic treatment. C minutissimum is generally susceptible to penicillins, first-generation cephalosporins, erythromycin, clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and vancomycin.
What kind of skin infection does Corynebacterium minutissimum cause?
Corynebacterium minutissimum. Microbiology The erythrasma agent, which is causes a common superficial skin infection Clinical Pruritic, scaling, red-brown macular patches; rarely, C minutissimum may disseminate, if the mucocutaneous surface is disrupted Management Erythromycin. The causative species of erythrasma.
What kind of light does Corynebacterium minutissimum produce?
Heat, humidity, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hyperhidrosis, and poor hygiene are predisposing factors. 35,36 Erythrasma can be confirmed with a Wood lamp examination. C. minutissimum produces porphyrins that fluoresce a brilliant coral-red color under ultraviolet light.
How is erythrasma related to corynebacteriium minutissimum?
Related to Corynebacteriium minutissimum: erythrasma Corynebacterium [ko-ri″ne-bak-tēr´e-um] a genus of gram-positive, nonmotile, straight to slightly curved rod-shaped bacteria. It includes both pathogenic and nonpathogenic organisms, which are widely distributed in nature.
How many cases of C minutissimum have there been?
To date, to our knowledge, there have been 14 cases of C. minutissimum infections that caused conditions other than erythrasma. These include 3 reports of cases of abscess formation.