Purpura fulminans localising to a recent burn injury

The development of progressive, severe skin changes (purpura fulminans) is a serious complication of septicaemia, particularly meningococcal septicaem ia. Purpura fulminans almost invariably leads to some full thickness skin l oss and may lead to limb amputation. The pathophysiology may involve microe mboli, endotoxins and direct bacterial damage to the vessels. We describe a case of purpura fulminans, probably as a result of meningococcal septicaem ia, localising to a recent, healed burn with complete resolution. We can fi nd no other record of the skin manifestations of meningococcal septicaemia localising to a previous injury. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd for ISBI. All rights reserved.