Clinical and bacteriological study of impetigo contagiosa

This work included clinical and bacteriological examination of 102 patients with active impetigo lesions in both forms of ordinary vesicular impetigo contagiosa [89 patients] and bullous impetigo [13 patients] of both sexes. The possible predisposing factors were hot and humid climate, sweat rash, septic foci and 50% of cases with scalp affection were infested with pediculosis capitis. In the present study, out of 89 patients, it was found that the mixed infection of Staphylococcus aureus and group A beta-hemolytic streptococci constitute the majority of cases [43.8%], followed by pure Staphylococcus aureus form [34.9% of cases] and A beta-hemolytic streptococci were cultured from 20.2% of cases. In cases of bullous impetigo, out of 13 cases Staphylococcus aureus in pure culture was recovered from 61% of cases. Mixed culture of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from 23% of cases and group G beta-hemolytic streptococci with Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from 7.7% of cases

Supraneal cortisol function in atopic dermatitis

This work was done to study the basal secretory pattern in atopic dermatitis, by determining the basal morning and afternoon plasma cortisol levels and also to study the adrenocortical reserve in those patients using a synthetic Corticotrophin. Thirty cases of atopic dermatitis were included in the study, together with twelve normal controls. They were all subjected to estimation of their cortisol levels in the morning and afternoon and also to the long acting synacthen stimulation test. Our results can be summarized as follows: 1- The basal afternoon and morning plasma cortisol levels were within normal range in atopic dermatitis patients as compared with the normal group. The diurnal rhythm in atopic cases was maintained. 2- After administration of ACTH a statistically significant prolonged rise of plasma cortisol level was seen if compared to the control group. 3- Our results suggest that there may be either a retardation in the metabolic pathway of ACTH in the atopic dermatitis cases which leads to maintained responsiveness of the adrenal cortex, or the suprarenal of the atopic dermatitis cases may be more sensitive to ACTH leading to prolonged responsiveness of the adrenal cortex. However more study of the adrenal cortex in atopic dermatitis patients has to be done