Sandbox:Infectious Balanitis

Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vishal Devarkonda, M.B.B.S[1]

Synonyms and keywords:Candida balanitis, Candidal balanitis

Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology of Infectious balanitis varies from pathogen to pathogen:

Pathogen	Route of transmission	Risk factors	virulence factors
Candidal Balanitis	Sexual acquired	Diabetes Neutropenia Age>60 yrs	All strains of C. albicans possess a yeast surface mannoprotein. This allows the various strains to adhere to both the exfoliated and buccal epithelial cells of the vagina.[1][2] Several virulence factors of Candida are implicated in Balanitis. These include proteolytic enzymes, toxins and phospholipase. Proteolytic enzymes destroy the proteins that normally impair fungal invasion
Anaerobic Infection	Possible modes of transmission include contact with infected mucosal surfaces, such as during sexual intercourse, contamination by colonized saliva, or extension from the perirectal area. orogenital sex saliva as a lubricant during coitus	Tight foreskin  sub-optimal hygienic mainta	Anaerobic Gram-negative rods produce various toxins, proteases, elastase, and other virulence factors
Aerobic Infections	Sexually acquired and partners of women with Gardnerella vaginalis have high isolation rates from the urethra24 or urine.autoinoculation Autoinoculation from other sites	uncircumcised ch Diabetes Neutropenia	Adherence to epithelial cells, biofilm production, surface hydrophobicity, phospholipase C and protease activity
Trichomonas vaginalis	Sexually	presence of other infections	Virulence factors such as adherence, contact-independent factors, hemolysis and acquisition of host macromolecules have been shown to play a role in the pathogenesis of this infection
Treponema pallidum	Transmitted via direct contact with the infected lesion (sexual contact)	Multiple sexual partners	Treponema Pallidum uses fibronectin molecules to attach to the endothelial surface of the vessels in organs resulting in inflammation and obliteration of the small blood vessels causing vasculitis (endarteritis obliterans)
Herpes simplex	often transmitted sexually direct contact with, or droplets from, infected secretions entering via skin or mucous membrane, where primary infection may become evident	Multiple sexual partners Low socio-economic status	Inhibition of MHC Class I, Impairing funtion of dentric cells
Human papilloma virus	usually transmitted via the sexual route to the human host.[1]		linked to epithelial differentiation and maturation of host keratinocytes, with transcription of specific gene products at every level.[2][3]

Causes

Balanitis

Fungal

Virus

Parasite/Protozoal

Bacteria

Candida (albicans, krusei) Dermatophytosis Pityriasis versicolor Histoplasma capsulatum Blastomyces dermatitidis Cryptococcus neoformans

Herpes simplex virus Varicella zoster virus (VZV) Human papilloma virus (HPV)

Entamoeba histolytica Trichomonas vaginalis Leishmania species Parasties Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis Pediculosis Ankylostoma species

Gram negative bacteriaE.coli, Pseudomonas, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Klebsiella, Neisseria gonorrhoea, Haemophilus ducreyi, Mycoplasma genitalium, Chlamydia, Ureaplasma, Gardnerella vaginalis, Citrobacter, Enterobacter

Spirochaetes Treponema pallidum, Non specific spirochaetal infection

Gram positive organism Haemolytic Streptococci(Group B Streptococci), Staphylococci epidermidis/aureus

Acid fast bacilli Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Leprosy Anaerobes (Bacteroides)

Epidemiology and Demographics

Epidemiology

There are no comprehensive studies

Screening

There is no established screening guidelines for Infectious Balanitis

Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis

Natural history

If left untreated, Infection balanitis may result in complications.

Complications

• Pain
• Erosions
• Fissures

• Phimosis
• Paraphimosis
• Painful erection
• Reduced urinary flow
• Urinary retention

Prognosis

Prognosis is good with treatment.

Diagnosis

Clinical features of Infectious balanitis
Candidal Balanitis	Erythematous rash with soreness and/or itch, blotchy erythema with small papules which may be eroded, or dry dull red areas with a glazed appearance
Anaerobic Infection	Foul smelling sub-preputial inflammation and discharg: in severe cases associated with swelling and inflamed inguinal lymph nodes Preputial edema, superficial erosions: milder forms also occur
Aerobic Infections	Variable inflmmatory changes including uniform erythema and edema
T. vaginalis	Superficial erosive balanitis which may lead to phimosis
TP	Multiple circinate lesions which erode to cause irregular ulcers have been described in the late primary or early secondary stage. A primary chancre may also be present
Herpes simplex	Grouped vesicles on erythematous base over glans, prepuce and shaft which rupture to form shallow erosins. In rare cases primary herpes can cause a necrotic balanitis, with necrotic areas on the glans accompained by vesicles elsewhere and associated with headache and malaise.
Human papilloma virus	Papilloma virus may be associated with patchy or chronic balanitis, which becomes acetowhite after the application of 5% acetic acid

Laboratory findings

Laboratory findings
Candidal Balanitis	Urinalysis for glucose Sub-preputial culture/swab for primary candidasis/candidal superinfection-to be done in all cases Investigation for HIV or other causes of immunosuppression
Anaerobic Infection	Gram stain may show fusiform/mixed bacterial picture Sub-preputial culture wet prep or NAAt(to exclude other causes) G. vaginalis is a facultative anaerobe which may be isolated Swab for HSV infection if ulcerated
Aerobic Infections	Sub-preputial culture Streptococci spp. and S. aureus have both been reported as causing balanitis
T. vaginalis	Wet preparation from the subpreputial sac demonstrates the organism Culture and NAAT can also be carried out
TP	Dark field microscopy, TP NAAT and DFA-TP will confirm the diagnosis. This should ideally be done every case. TPHA coupled with nontreponemal serological tests though of limited value, should be performed since they are useful for follow-up
Herpes simplex	Tissue scraping from base of erosion subjected to Tzanck smear IgG and IgM for HSV cell culture and PCR-preferred HSV tests for persons who seek medical treatment for gential ulcers or other mucocutaneous lesions
Human papilloma virus	Diagnosed clinically

Treatment

Laboratory findings
	Preferred regimen	Alternative regimen
Candidal Balanitis	Clotimazole cream 1% Miconazole cream 2%	Fluconazole 150 mg stat orally Nystatin cream-if resistance suspected topical clotrimazole/miconazole with 1% hydrocortisone-if marked inflammation
Anaerobic Infection	Advice about genital hygiene metronidazole 400 mg twice daily for 1 week Milder cases- topical metronidazole	Coamoxiclav(amoxycillin/clavulanic acid) 375 mg 3 times daily for 1 week Clindamycin cream applied twice daily until resolved
Aerobic Infections	Usually topical Triple combination (clotrimazole 1%, beclometasone dipropionate 0.025%, gentamicinsilfate 0.3%) applied once daily Severe cases-systemic antibiotics Erythromycin 500 mg QDS for 1 week Co-amoxiclav(amoxycillin/clvulanic acid 375 mg 3 times daily for 1 week	Alternative regimens depend on the sensitivities of the organisms isolated
T. vaginalis	Metronidazole 2 g orally single dose Secidazole 2 g orally single dose	Metronidazole 400 mg orally twice a day for 7 days
TP	Single IM administration of 2.4 MU of benzathine penicillin Doxycycline 100 mg orally BID for 2 weeks or Tetracycline 500 mg orally QID for 2 weeks or Erythromycin 500 mg QID or Ceftriaxone 1 g IM/IV daily for 8-10 days
Herpes simplex	Acyclovir 400 mg orally 3 times a day for 7-10 days or Acyclovir 200 mg orally 5 times a day for 7-10 days or Famciclovir 250 mg orally 3 times a day for 7-10 days or Valacyclovir 1 g orally twice a day for 7-10 days
Human papilloma virus	Patients applied Podophyllotoxin(podofilox) 0.5% or gel-twice daily for three consecutive days, but no more than 4 weeks or Imiquimod 5% cream-applied at bedtime 3 times/week for a maximum of 16 weeks, and must be left in place for 6-10 h following application or Sinecatechins 15% ointment Provider-administered Podophyllin resin 20% in a compound tincture of benzoin-once a week for 6-8 week or Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen ot cryoprobe. Repeat applications every 1-2 weeks or TCA/bichloroacetic acid-80-90% once per week for an average course of 6-10 weeks or Surgical removal either by tangential scissor excision, tangential shave excision, curettage, or electrourgery.