Cutaneous Diphtheria | Figure 4.12
A: Cutaneous diphtheria
(Courtesy of Public Health
Image Library: CDC)
B: Cutaneous anthrax
(Courtesy of James Steele,
CDC)
C: Erysipeloid
(Reprint from Mandell G, ed.
Atlas of Infectious Diseases.
Philadelphia PA: Current
Medicine LLC; 2002) |
(Figure 4.12A) - Localized infection of C.diphtheriae, endemic in several tropical countries, skin involvement via inoculation to an otherwise insignificant wound
- Presents as sharply bordered, punched out ulcer with yellow leathery pseudomembrane (primary disease) or preexisting wound becomes infected (secondary disease)
- If toxin produced, risk of cardiac or neurologic disease
- Treatment: dipththeria antitoxin from horse serum (before toxin binds cells) crucial, PCN or erythromycin × 10–14 days
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