Cutaneous infection caused by Serratia marcescens

Cutis. 2000 Dec;66(6):461-3.

Abstract

An 86-year-old woman presented with a chronic granulomatous skin lesion on the dorsal aspect of her left hand. Histologic examination showed pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia and a dense dermal infiltrate largely composed of lymphocytes and histiocytes. Abscess formation and fibroblastic proliferation were also present. Use of Fite, Giemsa, and periodic acid-Schiff stains did not show specific organisms. The gram-negative bacillus Serratia marcescens was the only microorganism isolated from all cultures performed. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 960 mg every 12 hours for 20 days (orally), was given and resulted in complete disappearance of the lesion and negative culture findings. Cutaneous infection by S marcescens may represent a distinctive entity, whose clinical and possible pathogenic features are presented here.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biopsy
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Serratia Infections / drug therapy
  • Serratia Infections / microbiology
  • Serratia Infections / pathology*
  • Serratia marcescens / isolation & purification*
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / pathology*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination