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Sepsis is the main cause of death in Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).Our aim was to identify admission risk factors predictive of bacteremia and the accompanying clinical or biochemical markers associated with positive blood cultures.A retrospective cohort study over a 14-year period (2003-2016) was performed.The study included 176 patients with SJS (n = 59), SJS-TEN overlap (n = 51), and TEN (n = 66). During hospitalization, bacteremia developed in 52 patients (29.5%), who experienced poorer outcomes, including higher intensive care unit admission (P .0005), longer length of stay (P .0005), and higher mortality (P .0005). There were 112 episodes of bacteremia, and isolates included Acinetobacter baumannii (27.7%, n = 31) and Staphylococcus aureus (21.4%, n = 24). On multivariate analysis, clinical factors present at admission that were predictive of bacteremia included hemoglobin ≤10 g/dL (odds ratio [OR] 2.4, confidence interval [CI] 2.2-2.6), existing cardiovascular disease (OR 2.10, CI 2.0-2.3), and body surface area involvement ≥10% (OR 14.3, CI 13.4-15.2). The Bacteremia Risk Score was constructed with good calibration. Hypothermia (P = .03) and procalcitonin ≥1 μg/L (P = .02) concurrent with blood culture sampling were predictive of blood culture positivity.This is a retrospective study performed in a reference center.Hemoglobin ≤10 g/dL, cardiovascular disease, and body surface area involvement ≥10% on admission were risk factors for bacteremia. Hypothermia and elevated procalcitonin are useful markers for the timely detection of bacteremia.

Background Treatment of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) remains controversial. Objective We sought to evaluate the impact of cyclosporine on hospital mortality in patients with SJS/TEN. Methods All patients with SJS and TEN admitted to our center from 2011 to 2014 were treated under a standardized protocol that allowed for cyclosporine therapy if the inclusion and exclusion criteria were met. Clinical data were reviewed retrospectively. Comparative analysis was made on mortality outcomes with patients treated with cyclosporine versus what was expected based on SCORTEN. Results In all, 44 patients were admitted during the study period. A total of 24 patients received cyclosporine and the remaining 20 patients were treated supportively. SCORTEN predicted 7.2 deaths and 3 were observed in the group treated with cyclosporine. In the group treated supportively, SCORTEN predicted 5.9 deaths and 6 deaths were observed. The standardized mortality ratio of SJS/TEN treated with cyclosporine was 0.42 (95% confidence interval 0.09-1.22). Limitation Small sample size, retrospective design, and referral bias are limitations. Conclusion The use of cyclosporine may improve mortality in SJS/TEN and needs to be validated in controlled studies.

Diagnosing tuberculids traditionally requires clinicopathological correlation together with positive tuberculin skin tests (TST) or demonstration of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Interferon gamma release assays (IGRA) are new laboratory tests approved for the diagnosis of MTB infection. We describe three patients with tuberculids who had no other clinical feature of tuberculosis (TB) infection and negative PCR of skin biopsies. Their diagnoses were aided by positive IGRA.

Infections are common in bullous pemphigoid and contribute to significant mortality.We sought to define the spectrum of infectious complications and to identify associated risk factors in a bullous pemphigoid cohort.A retrospective cohort study conducted at an academic medical center.In all, 97 patients were included. Infectious complications occurred in 54 patients (56%) and the median duration from diagnosis to first episode of infection was 3 months. Bacteremia occurred in 14 patients (26%) and 26 of 30 deaths (87%) were attributable to infections. On univariate analysis, significant risk factors include low Karnofsky score (60) (odds ratio [OR] 3.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5-8.3; P.01), high Charlson comorbidity index score (≥6) (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.5; P = .04), and dementia (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.5-15.8; P = .01). On multivariate analysis, low Karnofsky score and dementia remained significant with an OR of 3.3 (95% CI 1.1-10.0; P = .03) and OR of 4.2 (95% CI 1.2-14.7; P = .03), respectively.Limitations include potential selection bias as a result of study design and primary outcome measures focused on significant infections requiring hospitalizations. Minor infections were not included.Identified risk factors for infectious complications include functional impairment and the presence of dementia, which may allow for better risk stratification and individualized treatment of bullous pemphigoid.

Allopurinol hypersensitivity syndrome(AHS) is a severe form of cutaneous adverse reaction that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We report a case of AHS with the cutaneous manifestation of acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis(AGEP). A 47 year old gentleman, with no previous skin disease, presented with a generalized mildly pruritic erythematous rash on the trunk and all 4 limbs, with patches of superficial non-follicular pustules. Our patient fulfilled both criteria for AGEP and AHS.