Background: Purpura fulminans secondary to Capnocytophaga canimorsus (C. canimorsus) infection without a wound is rare and often misdiagnosed initially. We report a patient who died due to C. canimorsus bacteremia with purpura fulminans and acute compartment syndrome of all extremities.
Care presentation: A 38-year-old Japanese man with a history of alcoholism presented with a 2-day history of gastroenteritis. The chief complaints were abdominal pain and diarrhea, and he had abdominal tenderness. Laboratory findings showed multiple organ failure. On day 2, pain in the lower extremities associated with motor and sensory dysfunction developed. On day 3, purpura on the whole body spread to all extremities. All four extremities became rigid, and acute compartment syndrome developed. The patient died due to uncontrolled hyperkalemia and lactic acidosis.
Conclusions: Capnocytophaga canimorsus transmission can occur through licking or even close contact with animals when a risk factor of C. canimorsus infection, such as alcoholism, is present.
Keywords: Capillary leak syndrome; Capnocytophaga canimorsus; compartment syndrome; purpura fulminans.
© 2020 The Authors. Acute Medicine & Surgery published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japanese Association for Acute Medicine.