Abstract
Ecthyma gangrenosum is a rare and highly lethal cutaneous infection classically associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia. We report a 58-year-old man with multiple myeloma receiving chemotherapy who presented with 2 days of painless left periorbital swelling that rapidly progressed to a blackish eschar. His absolute neutrophil count was 0.10/mm3; platelet count, 14,000/mm3; and hemoglobin, 6 g/dL. Computed tomography showed diffuse left periorbital cellulitis. Blood cultures grew pan-sensitive Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the patient died from sepsis and multiorgan failure.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors thank the Division of Hematology and Oncology at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas for their help and support.