Spontaneous Escherichia coli cellulitis in a child with nephrotic syndrome.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is the most common infectious complication of childhood nephrotic syndrome, and Streptococcus pneumoniae is the preponderant bacterial pathogen. Spontaneous bacterial cellulitis, especially of the lower extremities, is another common infection encountered in the same patient group given that chronic edema acts as a potential culture medium. Gram-positive bacteria, including streptococci and staphylococci, are the most common causes of bacterial cellulitis. We report a case of spontaneous Escherichia coli cellulitis in a patient with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome.