Description

A 56-year-old woman with a history of eczematis and autoimmune hypothyroidism presenting with superficial bacterial abscess located in the upper medial quadrant of the right breast. Pristinamycine (antistaphylococcal antibiotic available in France, the UK and Australia) was prescribed (1 g three time a day). A few hours after starting pristinamycin she presented chills and scraping. The day after widespread itching erythema appeared with superficial pustules localised on the fingers of her left hand, on popliteal hollows, and on the anterior face of the right tibia. At admission to the emergency room the day after, the erythema intensified and spread all over her body (figure 1), she had fever at 38.7°C, and hyperleukocytosis (19×10⁹/l), eosinophilia (0.57×10⁹/l) and elevated C reactive protein (219 mg/l) were found. Liver and kidney function tests did not reveal any abnormalities. Pristinamycin was discontinued and acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) was diagnosed.

• Download figure
• Open in new tab
• Download powerpoint

Figure 1

Diffuse eruption with non-follicular superficial pustules localised on the fingers of the left hand (A), and on the anterior face of the right tibia, based on erythematous and purpuric skin (B).

AGEP is a pruritic eruption characterised by the sudden onset of numerous nonfollicular pinhead-sized sterile superficial pustules, based on erythematous skin.1 Additional skin symptoms such as face oedema, purpura and mild unique mucous involvement may be associated.1 ,2 AGEP is an infrequent adverse drug reaction, mainly owing to antimicrobials such as clindamycin, pristinamycin, amoxicilline-clavulanate and terbinafin.1 ,2 Typically, with pristinamycin, AGEP occurred on the first day of treatment. The differential diagnosis included pustular psoriasis, IgA pemphigus, drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms and toxic epidermal necrosis.1–3 During AGEP, stopping the offending drug is mandatory during AGEP, which allows resolving symptoms, most of the time without the need to use systemic administration of corticosteroids.