Nonfluorescent erythrasma of the vulva.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Erythrasma is an uncommon vulvar infection, best diagnosed by its fluorescence under the Wood lamp. This report shows that despite a negative Wood lamp examination, the diagnosis can be made histologically.

CASE:

A 42-year-old woman was referred to our clinic with a persistent candidal infection. Evaluation included a Wood lamp examination, wet mount, and potassium hydroxide test of the affected skin, all of which were negative. A biopsy of the area demonstrated rods and filamentous organisms in the keratotic layer consistent with a Corynebacterium minutissimum infection. The patient was diagnosed as having erythrasma, and she responded to oral erythromycin.

CONCLUSION:

Persistent vulvar diseases may be caused by erythrasma despite a negative Wood lamp examination. The diagnosis can be made by biopsy of the lesion.

• Authors: T F Mattox, J Rutgers, R N Yoshimori, N N Bhatia
• Journal: Obstetrics and gynecology (Obstet Gynecol) Vol. 81 Issue 5 ( Pt 2) Pg. 862-4 (May 1993) ISSN: 0029-7844 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8469500 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Corynebacterium (isolation & purification)
• Erythrasma (diagnosis)
• Female
• Fluorescence
• Humans
• Vulva (pathology)
• Vulvar Diseases (diagnosis, microbiology)