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Erythrasma

Zaiba Jetpuri, MBA, FAAFP, DO and Zubair A Syed, MD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

  • Erythrasma is a common superficial bacterial infection of the skin folds caused by Corynebacterium minutissimum.

  • It is often misdiagnosed as a fungal infection. 

  • Distinct variants include general...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Normally, erythrasma is asymptomatic; however, it may present with mild pruritus.

  • Reddish/brown discolored irregular patches

  • Affects intertriginous areas, interdigital areas (most commo...

TREATMENT

  • Topical 2% clindamycin (3 times daily for 7 days) or erythromycin or 2% fusidic acid (not available in the US) is typically considered first line for localized erythrasma. Whitfield's ointm...

ONGOING CARE

PATIENT EDUCATION

Patients should be counseled to keep affected areas clean and dry and to avoid occlusive clothing and footwear. 

PROGNOSIS

Excellent but may recur 

COMPLICATIONS

Immunocompro...

REFERENCES

1
Forouzan P, Cohen PR. Erythrasma Revisited: Diagnosis, Differential Diagnoses, and Comprehensive Review of Treatment. Cureus. 2020;12(9):e10733. DOI 10.7759/cureus.10733.
2
Zisova L, Valche...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Chen D, Ferringer T. Red-brownpatches in the groin. Cutis. 2018;101(6);419–420.

  • Kalra  MG, Higgins  KE, Kinney  BS. Intertri...

CODES

ICD10

L08.1 Erythrasma 

SNOMED

238418005 Erythrasma (disorder) 

CLINICAL PEARLS

Erythrasma is a bacterial infection of the skin folds, often misdiagnosed as a fungal infection. 

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