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Rapid-Onset Bacterial Infection Reported After Laser Treatment

Report describes five cases of rapid-onset bacterial infection occurring one day to one week after tx

WEDNESDAY, March 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Rapid-onset bacterial infections can occur after non-ablative fractional resurfacing with 1,550/1,927 nm laser, according to a case series published in the February issue of Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.

Noting that non-ablative fractional laser procedures are considered minimally invasive with a high safety profile, Lisa Y. Xu, M.D., from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and colleagues reported on five recent cases of bacterial infection with gram-positive and gram-negative organisms following fractional 1,550/1,927 nm laser treatment. Bacterial infection occurred approximately one day to one week after treatment.

The researchers found that one patient had a rapidly progressing pustular eruption with sepsis symptoms. All five patients were seen immediately and empiric antibiotic therapy was initiated after cultures were obtained. Patients recovered with no long-term complications.

“Rapid-onset bacterial infections following non-ablative laser resurfacing with the 1,550/1,927 nm laser have not been previously reported in the literature,” the authors write. “We present these cases to highlight the importance of close surveillance and when appropriate, rapid intervention, following non-ablative fractional procedures, especially when patients present with atypical symptoms and signs.”

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