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Severe skin loss after meningococcal septicaemia: complications in treatment
Author(s) -
Huang S.,
Clarke JA
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1997.tb14859.x
Subject(s) - medicine , skin grafting , purpura fulminans , meningococcal disease , surgery , intensive care medicine , intensive care unit , purpura (gastropod) , rehabilitation , complication , dermatology , physical therapy , neisseria meningitidis , ecology , biology , bacteria , genetics
Meningococcal septicaemia can lead to purpura fulminans with subsequent full thickness skin loss and deep muscle damage. The case reports on two infants who recovered from such a severe episode are used to describe post‐septicaemic procedures and complications encountered in nursing care, psychological support and rehabilitation, with the main focus on surgery. Skin grafting is complicated by contaminated and contracting wound areas. Extensive tissue necrosis required leg amputations. Cultured keratinocytes in one of the patients were found to be too vulnerable. It has still to be proven whether more radical early‐stage fasciotomies can limit skin and muscle necrosis. Patients with meningococcal septicaemia are subject to a high number of complications that are optimally treated in a burns unit. These patients require up‐to‐date knowledge of constantly evolving treatment possibilities and a high‐level collaboration of all medical fields involved.