Cellulitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae: case report and review

Although Streptococcus pneumoniae remains the most common cause of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, its involvement in skin infection is notably infrequent. A review of the literature uncovered only 13 cases of pneumococcal cellulitis in adults. Distinguishing features of skin infection by S....

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Bibliographic Details
Published inClinical infectious diseases Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 247
Main Authors Lawlor, M T, Crowe, H M, Quintiliani, R
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.01.1992
Subjects
Acute Disease
Alcoholism - complications
Bacteremia - etiology
Cellulitis - complications
Cellulitis - microbiology
Glomerulonephritis - complications
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pneumococcal Infections - complications
Pneumococcal Infections - microbiology
Streptococcus pneumoniae - isolation & purification
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Summary:Although Streptococcus pneumoniae remains the most common cause of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, its involvement in skin infection is notably infrequent. A review of the literature uncovered only 13 cases of pneumococcal cellulitis in adults. Distinguishing features of skin infection by S. pneumoniae included the presence of bullae, brawny erythema, and a violaceous hue in the affected skin area. Most patients with pneumococcal cellulitis had chronic illnesses or were immunocompromised because of drug or alcohol abuse. Even with appropriate antimicrobial therapy, many patients required prolonged hospitalizations and surgery for cure. We report a case of primary pneumococcal cellulitis with secondary bacteremia in an alcoholic patient who required extensive surgical therapy and whose course was additionally complicated by acute glomerulonephritis.
ISSN:1058-4838
DOI:10.1093/clinids/14.1.247