Ecthyma gangrenosum caused by Escherichia coli bacteremia: a case report and review of the literature.

Ecthyma gangrenosum (EG) is a serious and well-recognized cutaneous condition. Development of EG is most commonly associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicemia. Other organisms, such as Escherichia coli, have been identified less often as the cause of EG. We describe a 50-year-old man previously diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) who developed an E coli-colonized EG lesion secondary to E coli bacteremia. This case represents the seventh of its kind in the literature and the first case in a patient with AML. In addition, a brief review of the etiopathology and management of EG is presented.