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Diagnostics
Special Issues
Inflammatory and Infectious Skin Diseases: From Diagnostics to Management
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Inflammatory and Infectious Skin Diseases: From Diagnostics to Management

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 2992

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Giulia Ciccarese

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
Interests: skin and mucosal infections; sexually transmitted infections; infectious exanthems; human papillomaviruses; syphilis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Francesca Ambrogio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Section of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
Interests: dermatological diagnosis; venereal disease diagnosis; skin disorders; sexually transmitted infections (STIs); clinical manifestations; diagnostic methods
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Valeria Gaspari

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola Malpighi, Bologna, Italy
Interests: HPV; sexually transmitted disease; skin diseases; infectious diseases; antimicrobial resistance

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Inflammatory and infectious dermatitis are strictly linked; it is well known that an infection may trigger or complicate an inflammatory skin condition. This is true for common infections and common skin diseases, such as Streptococcus beta haemolyticus and guttate psoriasis, but also for rare dermatosis such as Wells' syndrome that respiratory tract infections can trigger. This Special Issue aims to explore skin and mucous membrane infections that may determine inflammatory conditions involving the skin and other organs. We also aim to unravel the uncommon skin manifestation of viral and bacterial infections, focusing on atypical exanthem. The possible connection between systemic infections and immune deficits is another topic that deserves attention, as these are cutaneous and mucosal manifestations associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Dr. Giulia Ciccarese
Dr. Francesca Ambrogio
Dr. Valeria Gaspari
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • inflammatory skin diseases
  • infectious skin diseases
  • dermatological diagnostics
  • therapeutic management
  • skin infection biomarkers
  • immune-mediated skin disorders
  • clinical dermatology
  • precision medicine in dermatology

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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10 pages, 524 KB  
Article
Conventional Diagnostic Approaches to Dermatophytosis: Insights from a Three-Year Survey at a Public Dermatology Institute in Italy (2019–2021)
by Eugenia Giuliani, Maria Gabriella Donà, Amalia Giglio, Elva Abril, Francesca Sperati, Fulvia Pimpinelli and Alessandra Latini
Diagnostics 2025, 15(17), 2245; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15172245 - 4 Sep 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Dermatophytosis is a widespread superficial fungal infection affecting skin, hair, and nails. Its diagnosis is often based on conventional methods such as microscopy and fungal culture. Laboratory confirmation is essential for guiding appropriate treatment and preventing the misuse of antifungal agents, [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Dermatophytosis is a widespread superficial fungal infection affecting skin, hair, and nails. Its diagnosis is often based on conventional methods such as microscopy and fungal culture. Laboratory confirmation is essential for guiding appropriate treatment and preventing the misuse of antifungal agents, which can contribute to the emergence of antifungal resistance. We retrospectively assessed the burden and species distribution of dermatophytosis in individuals attending a public dermatology institute in Italy over a 3-year period (2019–2021). Methods: We analyzed 3208 samples from 3037 individuals with clinical suspicion of superficial mycosis. All samples underwent direct microscopic examination and fungal culture. Data were stratified by demographics, body site, and fungal species. Agreement between diagnostic methods was assessed using raw concordance and Cohen’s Kappa statistic. Results: Dermatophytes were confirmed in 667 samples (20.8%). Buttocks and genitals showed the highest positivity rates (37.5% and 36.4%, respectively). T. rubrum (56.8%) and T. mentagrophytes (30.7%) were the predominant species among the dermatophyte-positive specimens. Agreement between microscopy and culture was good (raw concordance: 91.6%, Cohen’s Kappa: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.74–0.79). Younger age and male gender were significantly associated with dermatophyte positivity. Conclusions: Our data provide updated epidemiological insights into dermatophytosis in Italy and support appropriate antifungal stewardship. Laboratory confirmation remains essential for an accurate diagnosis and species identification, thus avoiding other non-dermatophytic or non-infectious conditions being treated as dermatophytosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inflammatory and Infectious Skin Diseases: From Diagnostics to Management)
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16 pages, 940 KB  
Article
Contact Allergy in Atopic Dermatitis and Psoriasis: A Retrospective Study
by Domenico Bonamonte, Aurora De Marco, Giulia Ciccarese, Paolo Romita, Giulio Giancaspro, Francesca Ambrogio and Caterina Foti
Diagnostics 2025, 15(6), 766; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15060766 - 19 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1498
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The correlation between contact allergy (CA), atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis is still debated. Therefore, the present study aims to retrospectively analyze the frequency of contact sensitization among patients with psoriasis and AD compared to controls, in order to further investigate [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The correlation between contact allergy (CA), atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis is still debated. Therefore, the present study aims to retrospectively analyze the frequency of contact sensitization among patients with psoriasis and AD compared to controls, in order to further investigate the relationship between CA and the underlying immunological background. Methods: All data concerning patients who underwent patch testing from 2016 to 2022 in the dermatology clinic of a tertiary center in Southern Italy have been retrospectively collected. Only patients who underwent patch testing with the S.I.D.A.PA. standard series have been selected and divided into three groups: AD group, psoriasis group and control group. Acquired data were organized into database and underwent statistical examination. Results: A total of 2287 patients have been enrolled, including 377 AD patients, 127 psoriatic patients and 1783 controls. The most frequent allergens were nickel and balsam of Peru. Methylisothiazolinone (4.2% vs. 2.2%), paraben mix (0.3% vs. 0%) and neomycin (1.3% vs. 0.4%) significantly provided more positive reactions (PSR) in the AD group compared to the control one, and fragrance mix II displayed a higher rate of positivity in the atopic group compared to the psoriatic one (3.2% vs. 0%). Conclusions: Psoriasis turned out to be a possible protective factor for CA (odds ratio = 0.6), while AD seems to facilitate its development (odds ratio: 1.42). The limitations of this study mainly rely upon its retrospective nature which limited the acquisition of clinical relevance for PSR. Further studies are required to better investigate this topic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inflammatory and Infectious Skin Diseases: From Diagnostics to Management)
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Other

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21 pages, 1018 KB  
Case Report
Acne Vulgaris Associated with Metabolic Syndrome: A Three-Case Series Highlighting Pathophysiological Links and Therapeutic Challenges
by Laura Maria Endres, Alexa Florina Bungau, Delia Mirela Tit, Gabriela S. Bungau, Ada Radu, Camelia Cristina Diaconu and Ruxandra Cristina Marin
Diagnostics 2025, 15(16), 2018; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15162018 - 12 Aug 2025
Viewed by 765
Abstract
Background and Clinical Significance: As a common inflammatory skin disorder, acne vulgaris is classically associated with sebum overproduction, follicular hyper keratinization, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation. Emerging evidence suggests a link between severe or treatment-resistant acne and metabolic syndrome, characterized by central obesity, [...] Read more.
Background and Clinical Significance: As a common inflammatory skin disorder, acne vulgaris is classically associated with sebum overproduction, follicular hyper keratinization, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation. Emerging evidence suggests a link between severe or treatment-resistant acne and metabolic syndrome, characterized by central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. This case series aims to explore the clinical overlap between acne and metabolic dysfunction and highlight the relevance of multidisciplinary evaluation. Case Presentation: Three patients with severe acne vulgaris and coexisting metabolic abnormalities were evaluated at a dermatology clinic in Oradea, Romania, between 2023 and 2024. Each patient underwent dermatologic examination, laboratory testing for metabolic and hormonal parameters, and individualized treatment. Management strategies included topical/systemic acne therapies combined with metabolic interventions (lifestyle modifications, metformin (in two cases), and lipid-lowering agents). Case 1 (female, 23) had obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Case 2 (male, 19) presented with central obesity and atherogenic dyslipidemia. Case 3 (male, 18) showed insulin resistance, overweight status, and elevated inflammatory markers. All three showed suboptimal response to standard acne treatment. Adjunct metabolic management resulted in partial improvement within 3 months. One patient required isotretinoin after metabolic stabilization. Conclusions: These cases underscore the interplay between acne and metabolic dysfunction. Insulin resistance and systemic inflammation may contribute to therapeutic resistance in acne. Early recognition of metabolic syndrome features in patients with severe acne may improve treatment outcomes. Dermatologists should consider metabolic screening to guide comprehensive, multidisciplinary care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inflammatory and Infectious Skin Diseases: From Diagnostics to Management)
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