Staphylococcal Bacteremia and Purpura Fulminans.

Purpura fulminans (PF) is a life threatening disorder of acute onset characterized by cutaneous hemorrhage and necrosis caused by DIC and dermal vascular thrombosis. It is commonly associated with meningococcemia or invasive streptococcal disease. In this article we report a case of purpura fulminans in the setting of staphylococcus aureus infection.

Spectrum of purpura fulminans.

Purpura Fulminans is a severe disorder of acute onset with high morbidity and mortality. It is characterized by DIC with thrombocytopenia, hyofibrinogenemia, hypothrombinemia and anemia. It most often occurs in young with sudden appearance of symmetrical, tender, ecchymotic skin lesions usually involving the lower extremities. An infectious and noninfectious etiology has been proposed. Early recognition and early therapy with appropriate antibiotics and heparin is known to limit both morbidity and mortality. This article reports 5 cases of Purpura Fulminans treated at our centre with review of etiology, pathogenesis, clinical features and treatment.