Severe skin loss after meningococcal septicaemia: complications in treatment. 1997

S Huang, and J A Clarke
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Queen Mary's University Hospital, Roehampton, London, UK.

Meningococcal septicaemia can lead to purpura fulminans with subsequent full thickness skin loss and deep muscle damage. The case reports on two infants who recovered from such a severe episode are used to describe post-septicaemic procedures and complications encountered in nursing care, psychological support and rehabilitation, with the main focus on surgery. Skin grafting is complicated by contaminated and contracting wound areas. Extensive tissue necrosis required leg amputations. Cultured keratinocytes in one of the patients were found to be too vulnerable. It has still to be proven whether more radical early-stage fasciotomies can limit skin and muscle necrosis. Patients with meningococcal septicaemia are subject to a high number of complications that are optimally treated in a burns unit. These patients require up-to-date knowledge of constantly evolving treatment possibilities and a high-level collaboration of all medical fields involved.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008589 Meningococcal Infections Infections with bacteria of the species NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS. Meningococcal Septicemia,Infections, Meningococcal,Meningococcal Disease,Infection, Meningococcal,Meningococcal Diseases,Meningococcal Infection,Septicemia, Meningococcal
D009336 Necrosis The death of cells in an organ or tissue due to disease, injury or failure of the blood supply.
D011695 IgA Vasculitis A systemic non-thrombocytopenic purpura caused by HYPERSENSITIVITY VASCULITIS and deposition of IGA-containing IMMUNE COMPLEXES within the blood vessels throughout the body, including those in the kidney (KIDNEY GLOMERULUS). Clinical symptoms include URTICARIA; ERYTHEMA; ARTHRITIS; GASTROINTESTINAL HEMORRHAGE; and renal involvement. Most cases are seen in children after acute upper respiratory infections. Allergic Purpura,Anaphylactoid Purpura,Henoch Purpura,Henoch-Schoenlein Purpura,Purpura Hemorrhagica,Purpura, Nonthrombocytopenic,Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch,Rheumatoid Purpura,Schoenlein-Henoch Purpura,Vasculitis, Hemorrhagic,Henoch Schonlein Purpura,Henoch-Schonlein Purpura,Purpura, Nonthrombopenic,Purpura, Schonlein-Henoch,Hemorrhagic Vasculitis,Hemorrhagica, Purpura,Henoch Schoenlein Purpura,Henoch Schonlein Purpuras,Henoch-Schonlein Purpuras,Nonthrombocytopenic Purpura,Nonthrombopenic Purpura,Nonthrombopenic Purpuras,Purpura, Allergic,Purpura, Anaphylactoid,Purpura, Henoch,Purpura, Henoch Schonlein,Purpura, Henoch-Schoenlein,Purpura, Henoch-Schonlein,Purpura, Rheumatoid,Purpura, Schoenlein Henoch,Purpura, Schonlein Henoch,Purpuras, Henoch Schonlein,Purpuras, Henoch-Schonlein,Purpuras, Nonthrombopenic,Purpuras, Schonlein-Henoch,Schoenlein Henoch Purpura,Schonlein Purpura, Henoch,Schonlein Purpuras, Henoch,Schonlein-Henoch Purpura,Schonlein-Henoch Purpuras,Vasculitis, IgA
D002053 Burn Units Specialized hospital facilities which provide intensive care for burn patients. Burn Centers,Burn Center,Burn Unit,Center, Burn,Centers, Burn,Unit, Burn,Units, Burn
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000671 Amputation, Surgical The surgical removal of part of, or all of, a limb or other appendage or outgrowth of the body. Amputation,Amputation, Multiple, Surgical,Multiple Amputation, Surgical,Surgical Amputation Procedures,Amputation Procedure, Surgical,Amputation Procedures, Surgical,Amputation, Surgical Multiple,Amputations,Amputations, Surgical,Amputations, Surgical Multiple,Multiple Amputations, Surgical,Procedure, Surgical Amputation,Procedures, Surgical Amputation,Surgical Amputation,Surgical Amputation Procedure,Surgical Amputations,Surgical Multiple Amputation,Surgical Multiple Amputations
D012867 Skin The outer covering of the body that protects it from the environment. It is composed of the DERMIS and the EPIDERMIS.

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