Acute dermal abscesses caused by Serratia marcescens

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008 May;58(5):891-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2008.01.011. Epub 2008 Mar 4.

Abstract

Primary acute cutaneous infections caused by Serratia marcescens are extremely unusual. Nevertheless, Serratia infections are especially frequent in chronic granulomatous disease, which is a primary immunodeficiency that affects phagocytic cells of the innate immune system. We report a young man without history of infections, who developed multiple dermal abscesses on a leg with chronic lymphoedema attributed to S marcescens. Laboratory investigations showed a delayed partial neutrophilic oxidative function. It is remarkable that the patient did not have any other infections during childhood, when most of the innate immune deficiencies are diagnosed, and he had no history of granulomatous lesions. We hypothesize that the delayed neutrophilic oxidative function could be explained by a partial neutrophilic oxidative function, which could be enough to maintain the patient asymptomatic until this infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abscess / drug therapy
  • Abscess / microbiology*
  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Ciprofloxacin / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neutrophils / physiology
  • Serratia Infections / drug therapy
  • Serratia Infections / microbiology*
  • Serratia marcescens / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • Ciprofloxacin