tetracycline and Foot-Dermatoses

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Clinical Trials as Topic; Female; Foot Dermatoses; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Placebos; Radiography; Skin Diseases; Staphylococcus; Tetracycline

The records of six dogs in which a diagnosis of symmetrical lupoid onychodystrophy (SLO) had been made were examined retrospectively. The age at onset ranged from six months to eight years. All the dogs had been presented with onycholysis, onychomadesis, onychalgia and onychodystrophy. The diagnosis of SLO was confirmed in all cases by histological examination. Histological features were similar in all cases and included hydropic degeneration of the basal cell layer, pigmentary incontinence and a cell-rich interface dermatitis. Response (defined as good, partial or failure) to various therapies was compared. Treatments (as initial therapy or following previous treatment failure) included essential fatty acids (EFA) (three cases), a combination of tetracycline and nicotinamide (four cases) and azathioprine and/or prednisolone (one case each). EFA therapy resulted in one good response, one partial and one failure, tetracycline and nicotinamide in two good responses, one partial and one failure, and azathioprine and/or prednisolone in one good and one partial response. Although all treatments were successful in some cases, none was universally effective.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Azathioprine; Dermatitis; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Drug Therapy, Combination; Fatty Acids, Essential; Female; Foot Dermatoses; Hoof and Claw; Immunosuppressive Agents; Male; Niacinamide; Prednisolone; Retrospective Studies; Tetracycline; Treatment Outcome

An outbreak of digital dermatitis in a dairy herd in the Gauteng province of South Africa is described in which 72% of the lactating herd was affected. Many of the affected cows showed a severe lameness and a drop in milk production. Other complications included heel horn erosion, under-running of heel horn and boxy claws. The diagnosis was made on the typical clinical appearance of the condition and the presence of spirochaetes on histopathological sections from biopsy material. The condition responded to spraying affected feet with an oxytetracycline mixture after cleaning with water using a high pressure hose. The prevalence was reduced to 28% after one month of therapy. A repeat outbreak occurred on the same farm 7 months later during which time 37% of the lactating herd was affected. Of the cows affected, 48% represented new cases, whereas the rest were reinfections.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Dermatitis; Disease Outbreaks; Foot Dermatoses; Oxytetracycline; South Africa; Spirochaetales; Tetracycline

Twenty seven cases of actionomycotic mycetoma caused either by Actinomadura madurae or Actinomadura pelletierii have been described. Infection by A. madurae has been more common than A. pelletierii. Left foot in A. madurae and right foot in A. pelletierii infections were involved more commonly in adult males, whereas right foot of the females was frequently affected in A. madurae infection. Large, soft, white grains in A. madurae and small, firm, red grains in A. pelletierii were consistently seen. Deep hematoxylin stained grains with scalloped margin and prominent eosinophilic club in A. madurae and such deep stained grains with smooth margin and horizontal cracks appearing as portions of a spherical mass in A. pelletierri were diagnostic. Large numbers of plasma cells and Russel bodies were also characteristic of A. madurae infection. Both the grains were stainable with Von Kossa method for calcium. Bone changes were similar in both the infections. Oral tetracycline produced soft tissue and bone resolution to almost normalcy in those who regularly consumed the drug any time from 2 to 6 years. Mild glucose intolerance, facial hyperpigmentation and urticaria were the side effects observed in a few. Two patients developed cataract following tetracycline therapy. The value of medical therapy with oral tetracycline in Actionomadura mycetomas is emphasized.

Topics: Actinomycetales; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Female; Foot Dermatoses; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mycetoma; Radiography; Tetracycline

Dr. Miller's discussion of the diagnosis and management of soft tissue infections is probably one of the most important topics in this issue. We are all faced with the potential for relatively minor infections becoming serious problems. Having a sound understanding of the infectious process and treatment regimens is extremely important in our general practices. Few things can make a patient as unhappy or destroy good surgical results as quickly and easily as an infection. I recommend reading the articles suggested by Dr. Miller and add that I believe that if the infection has not responded as quickly to therapy as is expected, an infectious disease consultation should be requested.

Topics: Adult; Bone Screws; Cefazolin; Dicloxacillin; Foot Dermatoses; Humans; Male; Nails, Ingrown; Osteomyelitis; Staphylococcal Skin Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Tetracycline; Toe Joint; Toes

Topics: Administration, Topical; Adult; Diabetes Complications; Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetic Coma; Foot Dermatoses; Gangrene; Humans; Hyperglycemia; Insulin; Ischemia; Skin Ulcer; Tetracycline; Tetracyclines

Topics: Adult; Aged; Arm; Female; Fingers; Foot Dermatoses; Granuloma; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mycobacterium; Mycobacterium Infections; Skin Diseases; Tetracycline; Toes

Topics: Chloramphenicol; Dapsone; Ethambutol; Foot Dermatoses; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mycetoma; Radiography; Recurrence; Streptomyces; Streptomycin; Tetracycline