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Case Reports
. 2013 May 8:2013:bcr2013009260.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-009260.

Unwanted baggage

Nicolas Leitz  1 , Zarqa Leitz, Martin Schaller
Affiliations
Case Reports

Unwanted baggage

Nicolas Leitz et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

An elderly woman with a rapidly progressing lower leg ulcer presented with features of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). The ulcer had occurred after hitting her leg against a piece of luggage. The causative pathogen in our case was by Corynebacterium ulcerans, demonstrated in bacterial cultures and by PCR. Disease progression was stopped only by Linezolid intravenous. after several other antibiotics failed to help. Diphtheria is known to most physicians as a respiratory disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheria which is occurring in the developed world infrequently because of widespread use of immunisation programmes. However, cutaneous infection with diphtheria is increasingly being diagnosed.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Clinical image of the lower leg upon arrival.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Wagner KS, White JM, Crowcroft NS, et al. Diphtheria in the United Kingdom, 1986–2008: the increasing role of Corynebacterium ulcerans. Epidemiol Infect 2010;2013:1519–30 - PubMed
    1. Vetrichevvel TP, Pise GA, Agrawal KK, et al. Cutaneous diphtheria masquerading as a sexually transmitted disease. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2008;2013:187. - PubMed
    1. Wellinghausen N, Sing A, Kern WV, et al. A fatal case of necrotizing sinusitis due to toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans. Int J Med Microbiol 2002;2013:59–63 - PubMed
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    1. Tiwari TS, Golaz A, Yu DT, et al. Investigations of 2 cases of diphtheria-like illness due to toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans. Clin Infect Dis 2008;2013:395–401 - PubMed

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