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Septic Vasculitis from Femoral Artery Catheterization
Author(s) -
Saporito F.,
Stetson C.,
Hope R.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of cutaneous pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1600-0560
pISSN - 0303-6987
DOI - 10.1111/j.0303-6987.2005.320gl.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vasculitis , histopathology , femoral artery , endocarditis , gram staining , surgery , biopsy , pathology , antibiotics , disease , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
A 77‐year‐old white male presented to an outpatient clinic with painful, purpuric macules and papules on his right foot. The patient had recently undergone cardiac catheterization via his right femoral artery. The patient had no other complaints, was afebrile, and generally felt well. The clinical impression was either cholesterol emboli versus vasculitis. A 4 mm punch biopsy was obtained. Histopathology showed a vasculitis with many basophilic organisms consistent with bacteria present within the vascular spaces. There was a perivascular infiltrate consisting of lymphocytes and neutrophils. A gram stain revealed gram‐positive cocci. The clinician was immediately notified and blood cultures were drawn and echocardiogram performed. The cultures grew staphylococcus aureus. While no evidence of endocarditis was found, a psuedoaneurysm of the right femoral artery was noted. Despite rapid admission and treatment, the patient subsequently expired.