Korean J Dermatol.  1998 Apr;36(2):335-340.

Cutaneous Manifestations in Sepsis Caused by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

• Jung SK
• Chang SH
• Yoon TY

Abstract

Sepsis refers to the systemic response to serious infection. Patients with sepsis usually manifest fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, leukocytosis, and a localized site of infection. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is a gram-positive, nonmotile, aerobic, catalase- positive coccus, which is resistant to all the B -lactam antibiotics. Cutaneous manifestations in sepsis are maculopapules, nodules, petechiae, ecchymoses, purpurae, pustules, vesiculobullae, hemorrhagic bullae and ulcers. When MRSA is identified in blood cultures and skin tissue cultures, the skin lesions can be considered as cutaneous manifestations in sepsis caused by MRSA. We report two cases with erythematous pustules, petechiae, hemorrhagic bullae and maculopapules caused by MRSA sepsis. MRSA grew in blood cultures and skin tissue cultures.

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Ecchymosis
Fever
Humans
Leukocytosis
Methicillin Resistance*
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus*
Purpura
Sepsis*
Skin
Staphylococcus
Tachycardia
Tachypnea
Ulcer
Anti-Bacterial Agents