Ecthyma gangrenosum and severe neutropenic sepsis caused by Staphylococcus aureus infection in a previously healthy child: a case report

Abstract

Ecthyma gangrenosum (EG) is a potentially lethal skin infection mainly caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but other causative pathogens have also been reported. EG usually occurs locally and often arises in immunocompromised patients. The fatality rate can be extremely high if a systemic infection leading to sepsis occurs. EG and severe sepsis caused by Staphylococcus aureus infection are extremely rare in healthy children. However, upon occurrence, disease progression can be rapid, and the mortality rate is high. This current case report describes a previously healthy child with no underlying diseases who developed EG in the facial and perianal regions following S. aureus infection. The infection rapidly progressed to sepsis, septic shock, and persistent severe neutropenia. The patient also developed drug-resistant bacterial infections that spread rapidly and resulted in multiorgan failure. The patient was treated with antibiotics, but she died of organ failure despite extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. EG caused by S. aureus has the potential to progress rapidly, leading to septic shock and severe neutropenia. Patients should be identified at an early stage and promptly treated with antibiotics. However, the improvement of neutropenia and prevention of secondary infections remain the focus of our research.