Purpura fulminans in meningococcal septicaemia in an adult: a case report.
Ann Burns Fire Disasters
; 23(1): 43-7, 2010 Mar 31.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21991197
ABSTRACT
Purpura fulminans is a rare and severe complication of meningococcal septicaemia. It presents as a petechial rash spreading rapidly in extent and depth, evolving into full-thickness skin necrosis. The condition is extremely uncommon in the adult population. We report the case of a 28-yr-old man with extensive meningococcal-related skin necrosis. The initial diagnosis was made and first treatment given in the emergency department of a local hospital, from where after 12 days he was transferred to our hospital. Our approach was based on the continuation of intensive treatment and on staged aggressive debridement. Temporary alloplastic skin grafts were used to prepare the wound bed and the wounds were closed with autologous skin grafts. The patient survived but subsequently, owing to chronic skin ulceration and scar instability, he underwent late bilateral below-the-knee amputation.The patient returned to normal deambulation with an orthopaedic prosthesis 18 months after the onset of meningococcal septicaemia.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
Ann Burns Fire Disasters
Year:
2010
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italy
Publication country:
IT
/
ITALIA
/
ITALY
/
ITÁLIA