Profiles of dental caries and periodontal disease in individuals with or without psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is manifested on the skin. Studies of oral health in psoriasis patients are limited. The aim of this study is to assess the experience and risk of caries and periodontal disease in individuals with and without psoriasis. METHODS: The material consisted of 89 individuals with mild-to-moderate chronic plaque psoriasis and 54 without psoriasis, recruited at the University Hospital in Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. Psoriatic arthritis (PsoA) was diagnosed in 25 of the individuals with psoriasis. All participants answered questionnaires and were subjected to saliva sampling and oral radiologic and clinical examinations. Two computer applications were used for illustration of oral disease risk profiles. RESULTS: Individuals with psoriasis had lower salivary pH, fewer remaining teeth, fewer sites with probing depth ≤4 mm, and a lower radiographic alveolar bone level than individuals without psoriasis (P <0.05). Most of the differences remained significant after controlling for confounders. Differences in alveolar bone levels were no longer significant, particularly after introducing the confounder sex into the regression model. Similar numbers of decayed and filled teeth, sites with deep pockets, sites that bled on probing, and risk profiles were observed. Individuals with PsoA exhibited a lower stimulated salivary secretion rate than those without psoriasis (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences in profiles of caries and periodontal disease experience and risk between individuals with and without psoriasis. Fewer remaining teeth were observed in individuals with psoriasis. However, the exact reason for tooth loss could not be identified. Meanwhile, the reduced salivary pH in individuals with psoriasis and salivary secretion in individuals with PsoA may pose some risk for future caries.

Fusidic acid-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in impetigo contagiosa and secondarily infected atopic dermatitis.

Fusidic acid-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (FRSA) has been identified as a causative agent in outbreaks of impetigo and its emergence has been associated with increased use of topical fusidic acid. The frequency of FRSA in atopic dermatitis (AD) has been less extensively investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the bacterial spectrum and frequency of FRSA in patients with impetigo or secondarily infected AD. A prospective study in our clinic in 2004 to 2008 included 38 patients with impetigo and 37 with secondarily infected AD. S. aureus was the predominant finding in all groups (bullous impetigo 92% (12/13), impetigo 76% (19/25) and secondarily infected AD 89% (33/37)). Seventy-five percent of S. aureus were fusidic acid resistant in bullous impetigo, 32% in impetigo and 6.1% in secondarily infected AD (bullous impetigo vs. AD p < 0.0001, impetigo vs. AD p < 0.05). We then performed a retrospective patient record review including all patients with impetigo or secondarily infected AD seen at the clinic during the first and last year of the prospective study. In the first year 33% (19/58) of the S. aureus isolates were fusidic acid-resistant in impetigo and 12% (5/43) in secondarily infected AD (p < 0.05). In the last year corresponding values were 24% (6/25) for impetigo and 2.2% (1/45) for AD (p < 0.01). In summary, the prospective study and the patient record review both showed higher FRSA levels in impetigo than in AD. FRSA levels were persistently low in AD. Continued restrictive use of topical fusidic acid is advised to limit an increase in FRSA levels in dermatology patients.

Frequency of bacteria, Candida and malassezia species in balanoposthitis.

Balanoposthitis is an inflammatory disorder of the prepuce and glans penis. Microbes involved in balanoposthitis have been investigated, but no single study has covered the growth of both bacteria, Candida and Malassezia. We report here the prevalence of these microbes in 100 patients with balanoposthitis and in 26 control patients. Among patients with balanoposthitis there was a significantly higher frequency of positive cultures than in the control group (59% and 35%, respectively, p<0.05). In the balanoposthitis group Staphylococcus aureus was found in 19%, group B streptococci in 9%, Candida albicans in 18% and Malassezia in 23% of patients. In the control group S. aureus was not found at all, whereas C. albicans was found in 7.7% and Malassezia in 23% of patients. Different microbes did not correspond with distinct clinical manifestations. In summary, we report increased frequency of microbes, specifically S. aureus, in the area of the prepuce and glans penis in balanoposthitis.

Microorganisms in intertriginous psoriasis: no evidence of Candida.

Infection can be a trigger and an aggravating factor in psoriasis. Antibacterial and/or antifungal agents are commonly used in the treatment of intertriginous psoriasis, because it is believed that flexures in psoriasis are often colonized by Candida species and Staphylococcus aureus. Bacterial and fungal cultures were studied from 32 psoriatic patients with no topical treatment in the intertriginous areas, from 13 psoriatic patients treated with topical steroids and from 19 patients with no psoriasis or other affections of the skinfolds. Untreated psoriatic patients were colonized by S. aureus significantly more often than the control group but infection seemed to be unlikely. Candida was not found in any of the groups. It is proposed that intertriginous psoriasis be treated with topical steroids alone and that the routine use of antimycotic and antibacterial combinations should be avoided.