MENINGOCOCCAL ENDOCARDITIS PRESENTING AS CELLULITIS

We report the case of a patient with mixed connective tissue disease w ho presented with two very unusual manifestations of meningococcal dis ease, cellulitis and endocarditis, concurrently. We also review the li terature concerning Neisseria meningitidis as a causative agent of cel lulitis or endocarditis. While meningococcal endocarditis or celluliti s is very rare, autoimmune disease predisposes patients to meningococc al infection. Therefore, unusual infections with this organism should be considered in the differential diagnosis of fever and rash in patie nts with connective tissue diseases.