title: Gangrene of the genitalia in children with pseudomonas sepsis.
abstract: The incidence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia is increasing. Successful management is based upon early and aggressive therapy of the bacteremia and the usually associated granulocytopenia. A small number of such patients present with ecthyma gangrenosum, a characteristic skin lesion. During the last 4 years 5 children with acute leukemia and granulocytopenia presented to our hospital with these lesions. Although they occur most frequently on the extremities, buttocks or perineal region 2 of our patients had only isolated lesions of the external genitalia, resulting in gangrene of the penis in 1 and gangrene of the labia majora in the other. The gross and histologic pathology is reviewed. Recognition of this characteristic skin lesion enables the prompt institution of appropriate therapy.
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005734:Gangrene / Q000209:etiology*; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D010409:Penile Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000150:complications; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications