title: Cutaneous infection caused by Serratia marcescens.
abstract: An 86-year-old woman presented with a chronic granulomatous skin lesion on the dorsal aspect of her left hand. Histologic examination showed pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia and a dense dermal infiltrate largely composed of lymphocytes and histiocytes. Abscess formation and fibroblastic proliferation were also present. Use of Fite, Giemsa, and periodic acid-Schiff stains did not show specific organisms. The gram-negative bacillus Serratia marcescens was the only microorganism isolated from all cultures performed. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 960 mg every 12 hours for 20 days (orally), was given and resulted in complete disappearance of the lesion and negative culture findings. Cutaneous infection by S marcescens may represent a distinctive entity, whose clinical and possible pathogenic features are presented here.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dermatological Sciences, University of Milan IRCCS, Ospedale Maggiore, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Marzano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gasparini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caputo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016868:Serratia Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination