Pseudomona Chondritis and Ear Piercing Pseudomona and Piercing

We describe a case of perichondritis by Pseudomona aeruginosa after piercing of the right posterior third of the ear pinna cartilage (high ear piercing) in an otherwise healthy Caucasian adolescent female of 16 years old at a local shop. Based on the tissue sample culture, she was successfully treated with ceftriaxone after a non-respondent first treatment, minimizing the destruction of the ear. A review of the history of body piercing, complications, risk factors, and treatments is presented with this increasing practice around Western cultures. Bodypiercing-associated cutaneous bacterial infections have been reported with increasing frequency, being Staphylococcus aureus the cause in the majority of the cases. Unlike Staphylococcus, Pseudomona is usually more aggressive and non-respondant to cephalexin or Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX). Complications in the piercing site, especially in regions with low blood supply, such as the ear cartilage as in this case, may occur . Hence, awareness of the precise diagnosis and aggresive adequate treatment must be installed without delay in order to minimize destruction of tissue.