Botryomycosis--peculiar bacterial granuloma
Petrini, B.; Lonne-Rahm, S.; Hedblad, M.A.
Lakartidningen 98(30-31): 3330-3332
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-7205 PMID: 11521336 Document Number: 526633
Botryomycosis is a chronic granulomatous infection, usually of skin or mucous membranes in predisposed individuals. Infection in internal organs may occur in immunosuppressed persons and is serious but uncommon. Trauma or foreign bodies and defective immune defense mechanisms predispose for the disease, which is mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, but also by other bacteria. The histopathological picture is diagnostic and biopsy is encouraged in granulomatous infections. Differential diagnoses may be mycobacteriosis, mycosis and parasitosis. If excision, the preferred treatment, is not radical, prolonged antibiotic treatment is required. The disease may become more widespread in connection with the common use of piercing in young immunocompetent persons.