Aeromonas hydrophila septicaemia producing ecthyma gangrenosum in a child with leukaemia.

A 4-year-old girl with leukaemia developed fever and ecthyma gangrenosum. Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated from blood and skin lesions. Ecthyma gangrenosum is often considered pathognomonic of Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicaemia. As is evident from the case reported, it may also result from infection with A. hydrophila, which has different antibiotic sensitivities, and which is now being recognised more frequently as a serious pathogen in immunosuppressed patients.