Case of Infective Endocarditis Caused by Implanted Artificial Hair Pyoderma

In 2018, a case was reported of a 64-year-old Japanese man diagnosed with infective endocarditis (IE) caused by implanted artificial hair pyoderma (IAHP), marking the first known association between the two conditions. The patient, who had a history of artificial hair implantation for premature alopecia, presented with fever and a heart murmur, and was found to have painful purpura on his fingers and an erythematous plaque with pus-filled vesicles on his scalp. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was isolated from both his blood and scalp lesion, confirming the diagnosis. He underwent successful valve replacement and treatment for the scalp infection. The report highlighted the risks associated with artificial hair implantation, which has been linked to foreign body reactions, infection, and other complications. The use of synthetic hair for this purpose has been banned by the US Food and Drug Administration and is recommended to be avoided in Japan. Dermatologists were urged to be aware of the potential for IAHP to trigger IE, especially since artificial hair implantation remains popular in Japan.