Primary cutaneous bacillus cereus infection in neutropenic children.

A review of culture reports for a five-year period at St Jude Children's Research Hospital yielded 10 cases of primary cutaneous Bacillus cereus infection in neutropenic patients treated for cancer or aplastic anaemia. Vesicles or pustules were seen only on the limbs. The infections, all of which arose in the spring or summer, responded to antibiotics. In neutropenic patients B cereus should thus be regarded as a possible cause of isolated vesicles.