The usefulness of skin culture in the diagnosis of chronic meningococcaemia

J Intern Med. 1997 Dec;242(6):519-20. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.1997.tb00026.x.

Abstract

We deal with the second reported case of chronic meningococcaemia in which the culture of skin biopsy led to the diagnosis. A 46-year-old man presented a history of recurrent fever and rash. Laboratory studies revealed an inflammatory syndrome. Serologic tests as well as blood culture tests were negative. The histological examination of skin lesions revealed a perivascular infiltrate in the dermis without any picture of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. A culture of skin specimen tested positive for Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis). After a week of antibiotic treatment, the patient recovered with no recurrence of either fever or rash over a two year period.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bacteremia / microbiology*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meningococcal Infections / diagnosis*
  • Meningococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Neisseria meningitidis / isolation & purification*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Skin / microbiology*