Infectious facial and nasal cutaneous necrosis: evaluation and diagnosis.

A review of the literature reveals that pyogenic gangrenosum (ecthyma gangrenosum) is fatal to most patients, especially infants. In this article, the authors review the differential diagnosis of facial necrosis, present two cases of infants who succumbed to the systemic manifestations of the disorder, and a third case of survival in an adult with concomitant systemic lupus erythematosus and pyogenic gangrenosum. Finally, a brief discussion of Pseudomonas gastroenteritis, Pseudomonas septicemia, and pseudomembranous enterocolitis is presented.