title: Necrotising dermatitis in refractory acute myeloid leukaemia.
abstract: Severe cutaneous infections in leukaemic patients are difficult to treat and can rapidly become fatal. We report on a case of essential thrombocythemia evolved to a myelodysplastic syndrome and finally, to an overt myeloid leukaemia, refractory to chemotherapy. In the presence of a marked neutropenia, the patients developed a wide Staphylococcus epidermidis necrotising dermatitis. The diagnosis was made possible only by a skin biopsy culture and the antibiotic treatment, based on antimicrobial susceptibility tests, rapidly resolved the infection. In neutropenic patients, appropriate laboratory tests and treatment, can lead to recovery of life-threatening infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: D'Apollo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saviola
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luppi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Emilia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Torelli
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D009336:Necrosis; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis; D013920:Thrombocythemia, Essential / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014640:Vancomycin