Staphylococcal Infections and the Pruritus of AIDS-Related Complex

To the Editor.— Dermatologic problems occur in 80% of patients who manifest symptoms of human immunodeficiency virus infection: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related complex (ARC) and AIDS. Two of these, especially common in our AIDS dermatology clinic, have not received much attention in the literature.¹⁻³ Staphylococcal infections are often found in patients with ARC,⁴even at T4 counts of 0.5 × 10⁹/L (500/mm³) in our experience. We have now seen, cultured, and treated 25 cases of intertriginous or axillary staphylococcal infection that look exactly like candidiasis. There are confluent red lesions in the axilla or groin with satellite pustulosis. Cultures have been positive for staphylococcus aureus, resistent to erythromycin therapy, and negative forCandida. The eruption is an atypical presentation of bullous impetigo and responds to dicloxicillin therapy administered orally in several days. The second cutaneous manifestation of ARC is generalized pruritus, which is severe and