Cellulitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae: case report and review

Abstract

Although Streptococcus pneumoniae remains the most common cause of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, its involvement in skin infection is notably infrequent. A review of the literature uncovered only 13 cases of pneumococcal cellulitis in adults. Distinguishing features of skin infection by S. pneumoniae included the presence of bullae, brawny erythema, and a violaceous hue in the affected skin area. Most patients with pneumococcal cellulitis had chronic illnesses or were immunocompromised because of drug or alcohol abuse. Even with appropriate antimicrobial therapy, many patients required prolonged hospitalizations and surgery for cure. We report a case of primary pneumococcal cellulitis with secondary bacteremia in an alcoholic patient who required extensive surgical therapy and whose course was additionally complicated by acute glomerulonephritis.