Acute infectious purpura fulminans: case report of a medical emergency

Abstract. Background. Purpura fulminans (PF), characterized by the sudden onset of large, rapidly spreading hemorrhagic skin infarctions and associated disseminated intravascular coagulation, is an uncommon medical emergency. Early recognition, prompt antibiotic therapy, and intensive supportive car...

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Main Authors: Xueying Li, Yaqian Ma, Qichao Sun, Ruihan Hu, Zhi Liu, Xiaowei Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Health/LWW 2023-06-01
Series:Emergency and Critical Care Medicine
Online Access:http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/EC9.0000000000000067
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author Xueying Li
Yaqian Ma
Qichao Sun
Ruihan Hu
Zhi Liu
Xiaowei Liu
author_facet Xueying Li
Yaqian Ma
Qichao Sun
Ruihan Hu
Zhi Liu
Xiaowei Liu
author_sort Xueying Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract. Background. Purpura fulminans (PF), characterized by the sudden onset of large, rapidly spreading hemorrhagic skin infarctions and associated disseminated intravascular coagulation, is an uncommon medical emergency. Early recognition, prompt antibiotic therapy, and intensive supportive care are essential to reduce the mortality rate of this disease. Case Presentation. We report the case of a 28-year-old Chinese man with acute infectious PF. He initially presented with a fever, which rapidly progressed to septic shock, followed by skin lesions and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Computed tomography imaging revealed superior and inferior mesenteric vein thromboses. Although the etiology of the patient’s infection was unclear, the patient received early fluid resuscitation, empiric antibiotic therapy, and blood product replacement, which resulted in gradual clinical improvement. Conclusion. Sepsis-associated PF may be reversible with timely empirical therapeutic interventions; however, the severity of PF should not be underestimated, and treatment should be tailored to individual patients.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2097-0617
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publishDate 2023-06-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Health/LWW
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series Emergency and Critical Care Medicine
spelling doaj-art-c132cdce13104c778ba956cdc2c8bc062025-08-20T01:54:12ZengWolters Kluwer Health/LWWEmergency and Critical Care Medicine2097-06172693-860X2023-06-0132848710.1097/EC9.0000000000000067202306000-00009Acute infectious purpura fulminans: case report of a medical emergencyXueying Li0Yaqian Ma1Qichao Sun2Ruihan Hu3Zhi Liu4Xiaowei Liu5Department of Emergency Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.Department of Emergency Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.Department of Emergency Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.Department of Emergency Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.Department of Emergency Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.Department of Emergency Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.Abstract. Background. Purpura fulminans (PF), characterized by the sudden onset of large, rapidly spreading hemorrhagic skin infarctions and associated disseminated intravascular coagulation, is an uncommon medical emergency. Early recognition, prompt antibiotic therapy, and intensive supportive care are essential to reduce the mortality rate of this disease. Case Presentation. We report the case of a 28-year-old Chinese man with acute infectious PF. He initially presented with a fever, which rapidly progressed to septic shock, followed by skin lesions and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Computed tomography imaging revealed superior and inferior mesenteric vein thromboses. Although the etiology of the patient’s infection was unclear, the patient received early fluid resuscitation, empiric antibiotic therapy, and blood product replacement, which resulted in gradual clinical improvement. Conclusion. Sepsis-associated PF may be reversible with timely empirical therapeutic interventions; however, the severity of PF should not be underestimated, and treatment should be tailored to individual patients.http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/EC9.0000000000000067
spellingShingle Xueying Li
Yaqian Ma
Qichao Sun
Ruihan Hu
Zhi Liu
Xiaowei Liu
Acute infectious purpura fulminans: case report of a medical emergency
Emergency and Critical Care Medicine
title Acute infectious purpura fulminans: case report of a medical emergency
title_full Acute infectious purpura fulminans: case report of a medical emergency
title_fullStr Acute infectious purpura fulminans: case report of a medical emergency
title_full_unstemmed Acute infectious purpura fulminans: case report of a medical emergency
title_short Acute infectious purpura fulminans: case report of a medical emergency
title_sort acute infectious purpura fulminans case report of a medical emergency
url http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/EC9.0000000000000067
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