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A 53-year-old man with adult-onset Still's disease developed severe streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) due to Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE), following retroperitoneal panniculitis. He was receiving tocilizumab (TCZ), an interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor. The modifying effect of TCZ on the immune response and the pathophysiology of SDSE infection may have led to retroperitoneal panniculitis and atypical STSS with delayed shock and flare of soft tissue inflammation., (© Japan College of Rheumatology 2024. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can cause a wide range of skin infections, however MRSA panniculitis without bacteremia is a rare manifestation. Here, we report a woman in her 20s with relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma undergoing stem cell mobilisation who presented with bilateral subcutaneous nodules over her shins. Ultrasound scan of one nodule showed non-specific inflammatory changes. Punch biopsy of a nodule showed lobular panniculitis with Gram-positive cocci. Blood cultures were negative but a culture from the biopsy grew MRSA. She was started on doxycycline with improvement in her symptoms. This case serves as a reminder to consider infections as a cause of panniculitis in immunocompromised patients., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most prevalent metabolic disorders worldwide, along with obesity and type 2 diabetes. NAFLD involves a series of liver abnormalities from simple hepatic steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, which can ultimately lead to liver cirrhosis and cancer. The gut-liver axis plays an important role in the development of NAFLD, which depends mainly on regulation of the gut microbiota and its bacterial products. These intestinal bacterial species and their metabolites, including bile acids, tryptophan catabolites, and branched-chain amino acids, regulate adipose tissue and intestinal homeostasis and contribute to the pathogenesis of NAFLD/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. In this review, the current evidence regarding the key role of the gut microbiota and its metabolites in the pathogenesis and development of NAFLD is highlighted, and the advances in the progression and applied prospects of gut microbiota-targeted dietary and exercise therapies is also discussed., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: Legionellosis is a well-known cause of pneumonia. Primary cutaneous and subcutaneous infection caused by Legionella pneumophila is rare and the diagnosis is challenging., Case Presentation: A 38-year-old Thai woman with systemic lupus erythematosus and myasthenia gravis treated with prednisolone and azathioprine presented to our hospital with low-grade fever, diarrhea, and indurated skin lesions on both thighs. Initial examination showed plaques on both inner thighs. Magnetic resonance imaging showed myositis and swelling of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Diagnosis of panniculitis due to L. pneumophila was carried out by histopathology, Gram stain, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing method of tissue biopsy from multiple sites on both thighs. Myocarditis was diagnosed by echocardiography. The final diagnosis was disseminated extrapulmonary legionellosis. Treatment comprised intravenous azithromycin for 3 weeks and the skin lesions, myositis and myocarditis resolved. Oral azithromycin and ciprofloxacin were continued for 3 months to ensure eradication of the organism. The patient's overall condition improved., Conclusions: To our knowledge, we report the first case of L. pneumophila infection manifesting with panniculitis, possible myositis, and myocarditis in the absence of pneumonia. The diagnosis of extrapulmonary Legionella infection is difficult, especially in the absence of pneumonia. A high index of suspicion and appropriate culture with special media or molecular testing are required. Initiation of appropriate treatment is critical because delaying therapy was associated with progressive infection in our patient.

This report describes the presence of cutaneous nodules and ulceration of the right leg of 1-year duration in an elderly woman. Prior biopsies had demonstrated dermal and subcutaneous granulomatous inflammation. Special stains for microorganisms and cultures were repeatedly negative. Polymerase chain reaction evaluation of the tissue block demonstrated the presence of Mycobacterium obuense., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Next generation sequencing (NGS) studies are revealing a diverse microbiota on the skin of dogs. The skin microbiota of canine sterile granulomatous and pyogranulomatous dermatitis (SGPD) has yet to be investigated using NGS techniques. NGS targeting the 16S rRNA and ITS-1 region of bacterial and fungal DNA, respectively, were used to investigate if bacterial and fungal DNA were associated with skin lesions in cases of canine SGPD. The study included 20 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) skin samples and 12 fresh samples from SGPD-affected dogs, and 10 FFPE and 10 fresh samples from healthy dogs. DNA was extracted from deep dermis and panniculus, and microbial DNA was amplified using primers targeting the bacterial 16S rRNA V1-V3 and fungal ITS-1 regions. The amplified DNA was utilized for NGS on an Illumina MiSeq instrument. The sequences were processed using QIIME. No differences in fungal or bacterial alpha diversity were observed between the SGPD and control samples. Beta diversity analysis demonstrated differences in the bacterial communities between SGPD and control, but not in the fungal communities. Compared to controls, the family Erysipelotrichaceae and genus Staphylococcus were significantly more abundant in the SGPD FFPE samples, and genus Corynebacterium were more abundant in fresh samples. The bacteria found to be more abundant in SGPD are common inhabitants of skin surfaces, and likely secondary contaminants in SGPD cases. This study provides additional evidence that SGPD lesions are likely sterile.

The bacterium Raoultella planticola (R planticola) is a rare pathogen in humans. We report a case of mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) of biliary origin with cholangitis and bacteremia with R planticola in association with pancreatic panniculitis (PP). We present the case report of a 55-year-old woman.

Obesity is associated with a systemic chronic low-grade inflammation that contributes to the development of metabolic disorders such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. However, the etiology of this obesity-related pro-inflammatory process remains unclear. Most studies have focused on adipose tissue dysfunctions and/or insulin resistance in skeletal muscle cells as well as changes in adipokine profile and macrophage recruitment as potential sources of inflammation. However, low-grade systemic inflammation probably involves a complex network of signals interconnecting several organs. Recent evidences have suggested that disturbances in the composition of the gut microbial flora and alterations in levels of gut peptides following the ingestion of a high-fat diet may be a cause of low-grade systemic inflammation that may even precede and predispose to obesity, metabolic disorders or type 2 diabetes. This hypothesis is appealing because the gastrointestinal system is first exposed to nutrients and may thereby represent the first link in the chain of events leading to the development of obesity-associated systemic inflammation. Therefore, the present review will summarize the latest advances interconnecting intestinal mucosal bacteria-mediated inflammation, adipose tissue and skeletal muscle in a coordinated circuitry favouring the onset of a high-fat diet-related systemic low-grade inflammation preceding obesity and predisposing to metabolic disorders and/or type 2 diabetes. A particular emphasis will be given to high-fat diet-induced alterations of gut homeostasis as an early initiator event of mucosal inflammation and adverse consequences contributing to the promotion of extended systemic inflammation, especially in adipose and muscular tissues., (Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Among nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM), rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) are the most common causative agents of soft tissue infection. Mycobacterium massiliense, a new species of NTM, was isolated in 2004. Due to the lower virulence of RGM, M. massiliense infection is rare in the general population. Here, we report a case of multiple infective panniculitis, due to M. massiliense, mimicking erythema induratum in a patient with Cushing syndrome. The organism was identified using traditional mycobacterial culturing and staining methods as well as molecular approaches, including erythromycin ribosome transferase gene polymerase chain reaction. The patient was treated with clarithromycin for 9 months, based on antibiotic susceptibility testing., (© 2014 British Association of Dermatologists.)

Cryptococcal panniculitis is a rare entity previously reported in only 13 solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Cutaneous cryptococcosis in SOT recipients warrants extensive systemic workup and treatment as if central nervous system (CNS) disease is present. It should be included in the differential diagnosis of panniculitis in the immunocompromised host, as early diagnosis and treatment are critical. We report a fatal case of cryptococcal panniculitis in a 44-year-old lung transplant recipient.

Objective: This study aimed at establishing bacterial flagellin-recognizing toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) as a novel link between gut microbiota composition, adipose tissue inflammation, and obesity., Methods: An adipose tissue microarray database was used to compare women having the highest (n = 4, H-TLR) and lowest (n = 4, L-TLR) expression levels of TLR5-signaling pathway genes. Gut microbiota composition was profiled using flow cytometry and FISH. Standard laboratory techniques were used to determine anthropometric and clinical variables. In vivo results were verified using cultured human adipocytes., Results: The H-TLR group had higher flagellated Clostridium cluster XIV abundance and Firmicutes-to-Bacteroides ratio. H-TLR subjects had obese phenotype characterized by greater waist circumference, fat %, and blood pressure (P < 0.05 for all). They also had higher leptin and lower adiponectin levels (P < 0.05 for both). Six hundred and sixty-eight metabolism- and inflammation-related adipose tissue genes were differentially expressed between the groups. In vitro studies confirmed that flagellin activated TLR5 inflammatory pathways, decreased insulin signaling, and increased glycerol secretion., Conclusions: The in vivo findings suggest that flagellated Clostridium cluster XIV bacteria contribute to the development of obesity through distorted adipose tissue metabolism and inflammation. The in vitro studies in adipocytes show that the underlying mechanisms of the human findings may be due to flagellin-activated TLR5 signaling., (© 2015 The Obesity Society.)

Importance: Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced locoregional multiple nodular panniculitis without septicemia is an underreported condition, with only 3 cases reported to date. We report 3 new cases of P aeruginosa-induced multiple nodular panniculitis without septicemia and describe common features among all 6 cases, thus providing the first description, to our knowledge, of the natural history and potential predisposing factors for this entity., Observations: Median age of the 6 patients was 74 years (range, 54-84 years). Patients had inflammatory nodules on a lower limb (n = 6) that were unilateral (n = 6) and had no fever (n = 5). Blood cultures were negative (n = 5). Skin biopsy specimens revealed panniculitis (n = 5), with skin cultures positive for P aeruginosa (n = 6). Skin nodules resolved with systemic antibiotics (n = 5). The comorbidities recorded were type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 5), overweight (n = 3), and combined locoregional anatomical changes in the lower limbs (n = 5). Local skin injury, which constituted the portal entry, was present in all cases, especially leg ulcers (n = 3)., Conclusions and Relevance: We describe P aeruginosa-induced locoregional nodular panniculitis as a distinct entity. This should be investigated in elderly, diabetic, overweight patients with inflammatory nodules on a lower limb associated with locoregional anatomical changes and skin injury, with the optimal antibiotic regimen introduced as rapidly as possible.

Infectious panniculitis caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus is rare, especially in immunocompetent patients. Its clinical presentation is usually nonspecific, but skin biopsy may provide information on the source. We describe the case of a previously healthy 2-year-old girl who presented with fever, tachycardia, and diffuse erythematous skin nodule; biopsy revealed a deep lobular neutrophilic panniculitis with gram-positive bacteria., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Erythema nodosum (EN)-like lesions are a rare occurrence after solid organ transplantation. Differential diagnosis includes infective panniculitis, which can be a feature of progressive disseminated histoplasmosis (PDH), an uncommon but severe form affecting primarily immunocompromised hosts. We report on a fatal case of PDH, which presented as fungal panniculitis masquerading as EN in a renal allograft recipient 25 years after transplantation. We discuss the clinical, histopathological, and microbiological characteristics of this rare complication, with focus on its distinction from EN. This case emphasizes the central role of biopsy in transplant recipients presenting with cutaneous lesions, and the importance of clinicopathologic correlation and complementary microbiological investigations., (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

The authors present an unusual case of lobular panniculitis caused by Borrelia burgdorferi senso latu infection in a 56-year-old man. It presented clinically as a solitary subcutaneous nodule. Histopathologically, the lesion resembled subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma by manifesting atypically appearing lymphocytes with cytotoxic phenotype. B. burgdorferi etiology was proven by positive polymerase chain reaction and serology and positive response to antibiotics.

Liposuction is one of the most common surgical interventions in aesthetic surgery, technically easy to perform and is also carried out by many non-plastic surgeons. However, this operation can have severe complications, and dealing with them can impose a great financial burden on the tax payer-supported national health-care systems. We report here about a patient, who was hospitalised for complications after a failed office-based liposuction. The ensuing costs of treatment are also discussed., (Copyright © 2010 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A 38-year-old male with a past history of intravenous drug use, AIDS and Visceral Leishmaniasis in 2000, was hospitalized after presenting with fever, myalgias and arthralgias, fatigue, hepatosplenomegaly and oedema of the inferior limbs. On the tenth day of admission, the patient developed painful subcutaneous nodules of the thighs and a Dermatology consultation was requested. A clinical and histological diagnosis of Leishmania Panniculitis was made, in the setting of Visceral Leishmaniasis recurrence. Leishmania Panniculitis is rarely found simultaneously with Visceral Leishmaniasis, and it is more frequently seen in HIV co-infected patients. In this case, the skin involvement allowed for an early diagnosis and histological confirmation of Leishmaniasis recrudescence to be made.

Suppurative panniculitis usually occurs among immunocompromised patients and can be caused by opportunistic pathogens or by secondary infectious lesions in the context of septicemia. Herein we report the case of an 82-year-old woman with multiple red nodules on the leg caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, not related to a blood disseminated infection. The present case represents an unusual presentation of indolent suppurative panniculitis caused by P. aeruginosa., (Copyright © 2011 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A case of Ixodes tick-borne borreliosis is described characterized by a rare form of skin lesion (panniculitis) that made difficult definitive diagnosis.

Case Description: A 5-year-old 38.3-kg (84.5-lb) mixed-breed dog was examined because of acute onset of lethargy and anorexia. Four days later, a raised, firm, warm 15 × 10-cm lesion was detected in the right caudal paralumbar area., Clinical Findings: Cephalexin treatment yielded a poor response. Formalin-fixed tissue and fluid samples from the cystic areas of the lesion were submitted for cytologic and histologic examinations, routine bacterial and mycobacterial culture, and genus identification and 16S partial sequencing via PCR assays. Cytologic examination revealed chronic pyogranulomatous inflammation. Histologic examination by use of routine, Giemsa, silver, acid-fast, and modified acid-fast stains revealed multifocal nodular granulomatous panniculitis without identifiable organisms. Mycobacteria were initially identified via PCR assay and mycobacterial culture within 3 days. Mycobaterium goodii was speciated by use of partial 16S RNA sequence analysis., Treatment and Outcome: The lesion resolved after long-term treatment with a combination of rifampin and clarithromycin and insertion of a Penrose drain. There has been no recurrence of the condition., Clinical Relevance: M goodii is an environmental rapidly growing mycobacterium and is a zoonotic pathogen. Infections have not been previously reported in domestic animals in North America, although there are rare reports of infection in humans associated with surgery, especially surgical implants. Domestic animals are a potential sentinel for this non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection in humans, although lack of speciation in infections of domestic animals likely underestimates the potential public health importance of this pathogenic organism. Current microbiological molecular methods allow for a rapid and inexpensive diagnosis.

Infection-induced panniculitis may result from a number of microbes including bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Viruses have also been implicated as a cause. This type of panniculitis can occur as a primary infection by direct inoculation of infectious microorganisms into the subcutaneous tissue, or secondarily via microbial hematogenous dissemination with subsequent infection of the subcutaneous tissue. Panniculitis is rarely viewed solely in terms of infectious causes. Also, subcutaneous infections are infrequently viewed in terms of infection-induced panniculitis but rather as cutaneous infections with subcutaneous involvement. Little information exists specifically on the subject of infection-induced panniculitis outside of the realm of case reports and case series. In this review, the present authors address panniculitis from the vantage point of infectious causes, focusing on those microorganisms with infection-induced panniculitis reports in the literature. Diagnosis and treatment are also discussed.

A 1-year-old, entire male Tasmanian devil living in captivity was presented because of a nodular inguinal lesion that subsequently developed a draining sinus tract. A second, similar lesion developed later in the ipsilateral axillary region. A deep representative biopsy specimen of abnormal subcutaneous tissue showed chronic active pyogranulomatous inflammation and beaded Gram-positive and acid-fast bacilli situated in lipid vacuoles within the lesion. A rapidly growing Mycobacterium species, shown subsequently to be M. mageritense, was grown from a swab of the primary lesion. It was susceptible to tetracyclines (including doxycycline) and moxifloxacin in vitro. The lesions resolved following treatment with doxycycline monohydrate (50 mg PO once daily) and then moxifloxacin (10 mg/kg PO for 20 days). The infection probably resulted from inoculation of subcutaneous tissues by material containing this Mycobacterium following fight or bite injuries. The presentation is reminiscent of similar lesions attributable to rapidly growing mycobacterial infections of the subcutis observed in domestic cats and quolls.

The most common cause of panniculitis (inflammation of the subcutaneous adipose tissue) is infection. Clinical panniculitis in dermatomyositis is rare. We found in the English literature 24 cases, including ours. Six cases involved children. Buttocks or thighs and arms were involved more frequently. Lobular panniculitis with lymphoplasmacytic infiltration was the usual pathology. Calcifications of the panniculus were found in 6/24 (25%) of the cases. Membrano-cystic changes were associated with worse prognosis. Sixteen of 18 cases (89%) without associated infection, responded to increased immunosuppression. Eighty-nine percent responded to steroids alone. Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) was effective in steroid-resistant cases. No spontaneous improvement was reported. Three cases were associated with infection; Staphylococcus aureus in two and Mycobacterium chelonae in one. All three responded to antibiotics with simultaneous decrease of the immunosuppressive therapy. Concomitant infection may play a role in the worsening of panniculitis and needs to be aggressively identified and treated.

Panniculitis may result due to various etiologies. In post-transplant immunosuppressed patients infection is the foremost cause of panniculitis. We present 2 cases of fungal panniculitis in renal transplant recipients. The first patient presented with non-tender firm erythematous plaques on the left thigh. Biopsy showed panniculitis with cryptococci. Subsequent investigations revealed the presence of cryptococcal antigens in the blood, urine, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. There was no evidence of cryptococcal meningitis. The second patient complained of subcutaneous nodules on the trunk and right thigh. Biopsy of one of the nodules showed panniculitis with histoplasma. This patient had been treated earlier (inadequately) for disseminated histoplasmosis. Both the cases responded well to conventional amphotericin B therapy. Their renal functions remained stable.

Erythema nodosum is an inflammatory reaction of the skin characterized by tender erythematous patches or nodules, usually located on the lower extremities. This report illustrates an association of erythema nodosum with a rare malignancy and an uncommon infectious agent in humans. There are many diseases associated with erythema nodosum; we propose that hairy cell leukemia and group C streptococcus be considered among this list.

Panniculitis is a rarely reported manifestation of juvenile dermatomyositis. The 3 previously reported cases of juvenile dermatomyositis and panniculitis were attributed to flare of underlying disease, rather than infection, and were treated with increased immunosuppression. Here we describe a patient with juvenile dermatomyositis who developed panniculitis secondary to Staphylococcus aureus. Patients with juvenile dermatomyositis and panniculitis should have extensive testing for infectious etiologies before increasing their immunosuppressive regimens.

Neutrophilic panniculitis (NP) is a widely unknown inflammatory disorder of the subcutaneous fat. The diagnosis and proper classification of panniculitis relies on histologic features, mainly the location of the subcutaneous inflammation (septal, lobular, mixed or vascular). In contrast to erythema nodosum, where the inflammation predominates in the fat septa, NP is localized in the fat lobules. However, little is known about this rare condition. We report a 54-year-old woman with a history of several episodes with subcutaneous nodules occurring on the lower legs secondary to bacterial cystitis (successfully treated with antibiotics prior to admission to our Department), that responded immediately to treatment with oral corticosteroids. An infective aetiology for NP has not been described so far, although this can be found in other neutrophilic dermatoses. The originality of our case is the recurrence of the disease on several occasions in association with bacterial cystitis. This case confirms that infections can be a cause of NP.

Introduction: Pellagra is an exceptional disorder in France. The classical description of pellagra associates a photoinduced rash with neurological impairment and intestinal dysfunction. Without adapted treatment, the progression is fatal., Case Report: A 62 year-old women developed a photoinduced rash, composed of circular and erythematous elements with pustular edges. She also had panniculitis, peripheral neuropathy, depressive mood and diarrhea. Her medical past was marked by epilepsy treated with sodium valproate and hydantoin. Biological exams revealed lowered plasma levels of vitamins PP, B1, B6 and zinc, secondary to intestinal impairment induced by bacteria proliferating in the small intestine. The rash resolved with vitamin PP and zinc supplementation. The bacterial colonisation was improved by long-term, sequential antibiotics., Discussion: We report a rare clinical form of pellagroid rash. The rash was induced by chronic malabsorption resulting from excessive bacterial proliferation in the diverticules of the small intestine. The antiepileptic treatment could have facilitated vitamin PP et zinc deficiency. Panniculitis was related to the bacterial proliferation. We discuss in this paper the relationship between some vitamin deficiencies, their clinical manifestations and the direct role of intestinal bacterial proliferation in the cutaneous manifestations.

Nine dogs with panniculitis due to rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) were examined over 17 years. Dogs were two to 15 years; five were male, four were female. All were obese or in good condition. Antecedent injury, typically a dog bite or vehicular trauma, could be identified in some patients, while one bitch had hyperadrenocorticism. Infections involved different locations, although the cervicothoracic region, dorsum or flank were most often affected. Patients were systemically well, apart from one dog with pyrexia and two with pain or lameness. Cytology demonstrated pyogranulomatous inflammation, but in only one case was it possible to see acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in smears. Histology demonstrated chronic active pyogranulomatous panniculitis and dermatitis; AFB could be detected in only four specimens. Culture of aspirates or resected tissues demonstrated RGM in all cases, comprising six Mycobacterium smegmatis group and three Mycobacterium fortuitum group isolates. Resection of infected tissues, perioperative injectable antimicrobials and long courses of oral antimicrobials chosen according to susceptibility data generally effected a cure, although some cases recurred.

Q fever is an uncommon zoonotic rickettsial disease with no exanthem or specific cutaneous lesions. Only nonspecific cutaneous involvement has been reported to date. A 69-year-old Spanish woman with chronic myelogenous leukaemia developed fever and two subcutaneous nodules. The patient complained of extreme pain. Biopsy revealed a granulomatous lobular panniculitis with a characteristic 'fibrin ring' or 'doughnut' appearance: fibrin and inflammatory cells arranged around a central clear space. Changes of membranous lipodystrophy were also found. Q fever serological studies were positive. Our patient had panniculitis with singular histopathological features. These histopathological changes have been described in liver and bone marrow of patients with Q fever. To the best of our knowledge, this cutaneous involvement due to Q fever has not previously been described in the literature.

Two horses were examined for large head wounds suspected to be the result of trauma and characterized by extensive necrosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, with abundant purulent exudate. Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis was isolated from the facial wounds in both horses. Histopathologic examination revealed severe suppurative cellulitis and panniculitis with fistulous tracts and granulation tissue in 1 horse. Both horses were treated with local wound care, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and administration of antimicrobials. The concept of moist wound care was used in the second horse, with products that have recently become available for veterinary wound management. Outcome in both horses was good.