Ecthyma Gangrenosum in a Healthy Man
Author Information
Author(s): Gençer Serap, Özer Serdar, Ege Gül Aylin, Doğan Mustafa, Ak Öznur
Primary Institution: Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Hypothesis
Can ecthyma gangrenosum occur in previously healthy individuals without bacteremia?
Conclusion
Ecthyma gangrenosum can develop in immunocompetent patients even when blood cultures are negative.
Supporting Evidence
- The patient had no history of immunosuppressive disease or treatment.
- Blood cultures remained sterile, but a culture of the biopsy material grew Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- The patient was treated with antibiotics and the skin lesion healed within two months.
Takeaway
A healthy man got a serious skin infection called ecthyma gangrenosum without having bacteria in his blood. This shows that even healthy people can get this infection.
Methodology
Case report detailing the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of a patient with ecthyma gangrenosum.
Limitations
The source of infection could not be determined with certainty.
Participant Demographics
A 63-year-old previously healthy male.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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