Images in Clinical Medicine
Pseudomonas Cellulitis
N Engl J Med 2005; 353:e2July 14, 2005
- Article
A healthy 42-year-old man presented with a broad eroded, ulcerated lesion on the left foot, which had developed over the previous month. His new job required that he wear boots, which caused his feet to perspire. Toe-web scale accumulated and became moist. Erythema and vesicles appeared in the webs and then extended onto the dorsum. Itching became intense. The patient applied a moderately strong topical steroid, which provided temporary relief, but then the eruption became painful and much more extensive.
Examination showed an ulcerated area on the dorsal (Panel A) and plantar surfaces. The skin around the erosions was stained green (Panel B, arrows). A culture was positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The patient was treated with acetic acid (diluted vinegar) in wet compresses, ciclopirox in a topical suspension, and levofloxacin, administered orally, for 10 days. All areas had healed four weeks later, at which time the patient was able to return to work. The importance of keeping his feet dry when wearing boots was reinforced.
Thomas P. Habif, M.D.
Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH 03755-1404- Citing Articles (1)
Citing Articles
1
Douglas C. Wu, Wilson W. Chan, Andrei I. Metelitsa, Loretta Fiorillo, Andrew N. Lin. (2011) Pseudomonas Skin Infection. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology 12:3, 157-169
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