Purpura Fulminans: Meningococcemia Manifestation

Abstract

Background: Neisseria meningitidis is the most frequent etiologic agent of meningococcemia and meningitis. In both scenarios it is capable to produce clinical manifestations of great importance. The purpura fulminans is part of the cutaneous signs caused by this bacterial agent. It begins as a cutaneous hemorrhage and necrosis due to vascular thrombosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation secondary to immunological, genetic, and vascular events. Being in this infectious disease a factor of poor prognosis. Case presentation: We present a case of purpura fulminans where the etiological agent isolated by blood culture was Neisseria meningitidis in a Patient at the Hospital de San José in the city of Bogotá. The patient shows on physical examination erythematous macula type lesions with irregular edges like purpuric lesions. The isolated bacteria was Neisseria meningitidis and the diagnosis of meningococcemia was did. Conclusion: Meningococcemia it is considered that the most frequent etiologic agent of this entity is Neisseria meningitidis. Typically, it can start as a cutaneous hemorrhage and necrosis due to vascular thrombosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation, being a presentation a factor of poor prognosis.