Non-pseudomonal Ecthyma Gangrenosum and Idiopathic Myelofibrosis in a Two-Year-Old Girl

The skin and soft tissue infections in hematological patients

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) in patients with hematological malignancies are frequent, but dedicated epidemiological studies are limited. The aim of this review is to provide updated description of the main etiological agents, differential diagnosis, and treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS

In addition to common causes of bacterial skin infections in any kind of patients, such as streptococci and staphylococci (the letter frequently resistant to methicillin), Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a frequent agent in patients with hematological malignancies, with high virulence and typical infection presenting as ecthyma gangrenosum. Among fungi, fusariosis is the mold infection most frequently associated with skin lesions, although other molds and yeasts (including Candida tropicalis) should be also considered. External infections associated with central venous catheters are frequent in the hematological setting, and in addition to staphylococci, Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and even rapid growing nontuberculous mycobacteria should be considered. Immunodeficiency might either blunt the typical inflammatory response and make sign or symptoms less evident, or predispose the patients to rapid progression of skin infection to subcutaneous tissues or dissemination.

SUMMARY

SSTIs in hematology patients can be caused by various infectious agents resulting in similar clinical presentation. Rapid and accurate diagnosis is fundamental in order to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Ecthyma Gangrenosum Secondary to Pseudomonal Sepsis Complicated by Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Following Craniotomy for Resection of a Metastasis

Ecthyma gangrenosum is a rare physical exam finding pathognomonic for severe bacteremia and typically associated with pseudomonal sepsis. The characteristic skin lesions appear as ring-shaped hemorrhagic pustules that evolve into necrotic ulcers. In the present case, a 62-year-old woman with a pulmonary adenocarcinoma treated with surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy developed three symptomatic brain masses. The lesions were presumed metastatic and initially treated with stereotactic radiosurgery; however, follow-up imaging identified treatment failure of a cerebellar lesion, and the patient was subsequently taken to surgery on an elective basis for suboccipital craniotomy and tumor resection. Although her initial postoperative course was unremarkable, on postoperative day two, she experienced a rapidly progressive neurologic and hemodynamic decline. During this period, numerous ring-shaped, necrotic cutaneous lesions rapidly appeared, consistent with ecthyma gangrenosum. In spite of multi-modality critical care treatment and resuscitation, including milrinone, multiple vasopressors, anti-pseudomonal antibiotics, and prone positioning, the patient progressed to cardiorespiratory failure and died.