Necrotising dermatitis in refractory acute myeloid leukaemia.
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.
D'Apollo
N
N
Department of Oncology and Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Modena, Italy.
Saviola
A
A
Longo
G
G
Luppi
M
M
Emilia
G
G
Torelli
G
G
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
D014640:Vancomycin