Infections of scleroderma digital ulcers: a single center cohort retrospective study

• Main Authors: Dilia Giuggioli, Luca Magnani, Amelia Spinella, Gianluigi Bajocchi, Adalgisa Palermo, Federica Lumetti, Emanuele Cocchiara, Carlo Salvarani
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: PAGEPress Publications 2021-10-01
• Series: Dermatology Reports
• Subjects: Scleroderma - Digital Ulcers - Infections
• Online Access: https://www.pagepress.org/journals/index.php/dr/article/view/9075

BACKGROUNDS: Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune and up to fifty percent of patients develop digital ulcers. AIMS: Understand how much infections influence scleroderma digital ulcers’ healing. METHODS: We revised fifty consecutive patients with SSc-related DUs who referred to our Scleroderma Unit. Thirty-five of them who showed clear signs of DUs infection underwent to cutaneous swab and microbiological data collection. We performed 87 cutaneous swabs overall.  RESULTS: DUs were recurrent in 58% of the patients and multiple in 60% of patients. Fourty-four swabs (53%) were positive for Staphylococcus Aureus (13% Methicillin-Resistant), 9 were positive for Pseudomonas Aeruginosa (Pseudomonas A.) (10%), and then the others less frequently isolated. Twenty-fifth percent of patients needed hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Our data support a patient-tailored approached to DUs, particularly those infected. Self-hygiene and asepsis during dressing procedures are mandatory. Patient must be trained to avoid dangerous  behaviors and reduce the risk of infection.