title: Ecthyma gangrenosum in a non-neutropaenic, elderly patient: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Ecthyma gangrenosum is a cutaneous infection most commonly associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia, but it may also be encountered after breakdown of mechanical defence barriers and local infection. The characteristic lesions of ecthyma gangrenosum are haemorrhagic blisters with surrounding erythema that rapidly evolve to necrotic ulcers. A high mortality rate is reported, especially when diagnosis is delayed and in the absence of appropriate therapy. Ecthyma gangrenosum usually occurs in critically ill and immunocompromised patients. Haematological malignancies and neutropaenia are the major risk factors, but other comorbidities (e.g. diabetes mellitus and malnutrition) have also been involved. Here, we report a case of ecthyma gangrenosum in a non-neutropaenic elderly patient with multiple comorbidities and review the literature on ecthyma gangrenosum.
authors.affiliation: Service de Geriatrie, Clinique Universitaire UCL de Mont-Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium Universite Catholique de Louvain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bettens
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Delaere
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Glupczynski
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schoevaerdts
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Swine
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002442:Ceftazidime / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004473:Ecthyma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002442:Ceftazidime