Purpura Fulminans in the Setting of Escherichia coli Septicemia

To the Editor:

Purpura fulminans is a severe and rapidly fatal thrombotic disorder that can occur in association with either hereditary or acquired deficiencies of the natural anticoagulants protein C and protein S.¹ It most commonly results from the acute inflammatory response and subsequent disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) seen in severe bacterial septicemia. Excessive bleeding, retiform purpura, and skin necrosis may develop as a result of the coagulopathies of typical DIC.¹Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus frequently are implicated as pathogens, but Escherichia coli–associated purpura fulminans in adults is rare.^2,3 We report a case of purpura fulminans in the setting of E coli septicemia.

A 62-year-old woman with a history of end-stage liver disease secondary to alcoholic liver cirrhosis diagnosed 13 years prior complicated by ascites and esophageal varices presented to a primary care clinic for evaluation of a recent-onset nontender lesion on the left buttock. She was hypotensive with a blood pressure of 62/48 mmHg. The patient was prescribed ciprofloxacin 250 mg twice daily and hydrocodone/acetominophen 5 mg/325 mg twice daily as needed for pain management and was discharged. Six hours later, the patient presented to the emergency department with new onset symptoms of confusion and dark-colored spots on the abdomen and lower legs, which her family members noted had developed shortly after the patient took ciprofloxacin. In the emergency department, the patient was noted to be hypotensive and febrile with a severe metabolic acidosis. She was intubated for respiratory failure and received intravenous fluid resuscitation, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and vasopressors. Blood cultures were obtained, and the dermatology department was consulted.

On physical examination, extensive purpuric, reticulated, and stellate plaques with central necrosis and hemorrhagic bullae were noted on the abdomen (Figure, A) and bilateral lower legs (Figure, B) extending onto the thighs. The patient was coagulopathic with persistent sanguineous oozing at intravenous sites and bilateral nares. A small erythematous ulcer with overlying black eschar was noted on the left medial buttock.

Extensive purpuric, reticulated plaques with central necrosis and hemorrhagic bullae on the abdomen (A) and lower left leg extending onto the thigh (B).

Laboratory test results showed new-onset thrombocytopenia, prolonged prothrombin time/international normalized ratio and partial thromboplastin time, and low fibrinogen levels, which confirmed a diagnosis of acute DIC. Blood cultures were positive for gram-negative rods in 4 out of 4 bottles within 12 hours of being drawn. Further testing identified the microorganism as E coli, and antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed it was sensitive to most antibiotics.

The patient was clinically diagnosed with purpura fulminans secondary to severe E coli septicemia and DIC. This life-threatening disorder is considered a medical emergency with a high mortality rate. Laboratory findings supporting DIC include the presence of schistocytes on a peripheral blood smear, thrombocytopenia, positive plasma protamine paracoagulation test, low fibrinogen levels, and positive fibrin degradation products. Reported cases of purpura fulminans in the setting of E coli septicemia are rare, and meningococcemia is the most common presentation.^2,3 Bacterial components (eg, lipopolysaccharides found in the cell walls of gram-negative bacteria) may contribute to the progression of septicemia. Increased levels of endotoxin lipopolysaccharide can lead to septic shock and organ dysfunction.⁴ However, the release of lipooligosaccharides is associated with the development of meningococcal septicemia, and the lipopolysaccharide levels are directly correlated with prognosis in patients without meningitis.^5-7