2019 Volume 79 Issue 5 Pages 636-641
Aminoglycoside antibiotic substances are widely used to treat injuries including burns and bacterial infections. Among these substances, fradiomycin is regarded as an important cause of allergic contact dermatitis. To evaluate sensitization to this medicament, we performed diagnostic patch testing of 242 patients（49 men, 193 women; ranging in age from 16 to 92 years; mean 52.4±18.7 years）at the Dermatology Department of Showa University East, Northern Yokohama, and Fujigaoka Hospitals from May 2009 to May 2018. Fradiomycin sulfate was applied on the back for 2 days, and the results were read using the International Contact Dermatitis Research Group（ICDRG）scoring system 2, 3, and 7 days after application. Reactions ranging between ＋ to ＋＋＋ at day 7 were regarded as positive. Fourteen patients（2 men and 12 women; ranging in age from 44 to 79 years; mean 61.8, S.D±11.6 years）positively reacted to fradiomycin sulfate, and the positive rate was 5.8％. Among the 14, ten were patients with contact dermatitis: all of them had cutaneous lesions on their face, and 8 had on periorbital region. As fradiomycin sulfate is a medicament, it is clear that these patients were sensitized through iatrogenic procedure. Ophthalmic ointments have an important role for sensitization to fradiomycin. Sensitization rates for fradiomycin have decreased in Western Canada due to a reduction of fradiomycin-containing products. Therefore, when using topical antibiotics, we must be careful to not only prevent the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria but to prevent sensitization by unnecessary application.
