Escherichia coli chest-wall hemorrhagic cellulitis associated with central-line placement

Cellulitis is a common clinical entity. Hemorrhagic cellulitis is distinctl y unusual and is most frequent in compromised hosts. In normal or near norm al hosts, hemorrhagic cellulitis may rarely complicate gramnegative sepsis. Usually, hemorrhagic cellulitis occurs below the waist. The differential d iagnosis includes invasive streptococcal infection, mixed aerobic and anaer obic infection, gram-negative sepsis, and gross gangrene. We present the fi rst-known case of Escherichia coli chest-wall hemorrhagic cellulitis associ ated with a central line in a patient with renal failure.