title: Diagnostic value of polymerase chain reaction analysis of skin biopsies in purpura fulminans.
abstract: Even though prompt diagnosis and treatment of purpura fulminans (PF) is essential to reduce mortality, early administration of antibiotics may preclude identification of the causative agent by standard bacterial cultures and thus render definitive diagnosis impossible. Here we present a case of an infant with PF and negative bacterial cultures for whom polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of a cutaneous biopsy specimen obtained 4 days after initiation of antibiotics identified the genomic sequence of Neisseria meningitidis genogroup C. When bacterial cultures fail to provide useful information, PCR of skin biopsy specimens can be a valuable diagnostic tool in PF.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Dermatology Unit, Hôpital Pellegrin-Enfants, Bordeaux, France; Department of Pediatrics, Hôpital Pellegrin-Enfants, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beau
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vlassova
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sarlangue
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Brissaud
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Léauté-Labrèze
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boralevi
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D038542:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup C / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D055665:Purpura Fulminans / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents