Contact dermatitis from lincomycin and spectinomycin in chicken vaccinators.

This article presents two case studies related to contact dermatitis from lincomycin and spectinomycin in chicken vaccinators. A 27-year-old female had worked as a chicken vaccinator for 4 years. In June 1989, 2 months after using lincomycin for the first time, her fingertips and dorsa of the fingers of both hands began to itch, more so on the right hand. In 5 days, the clinical picture worsened. Erythema and papules appeared on the dorsum of both hands and in 2 days spread to the forearms. Pruritus increased greatly. She stopped work and on treatment with topical corticosteroids and oral antibistamines, her skin cleared within 10 days. Another 27-year-old female had worked on the same farm for 2 years. Previous to this, she had worked as an ironer. She had an allergy to imitation jewellery since the age of 15 years.