Keratin gene expression is regarded as a hallmark of epidermal biology. It demarcates the three keratinocyte phenotypes: basal (expressing KRT5 and KRT14), differentiating (expressing KRT1 and KRT10), and activated (wound healing), which is characterized by expression of KRT6, KRT16, and KRT17. Activated keratinocytes are among the first signals of epidermal wound healing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEcthyma gangrenosum is classically a cutaneous manifestation of a pseudomonal septicemia that presents in a patient with an immunodeficiency or hematologic malignancy. We describe a previously healthy 8-month-old girl who developed transient neutropenia and characteristic ecthyma gangrenosum lesions secondary to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. This unique presentation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ecthyma gangrenosum emphasizes the importance of broad empiric coverage and early culturing for microorganism and susceptibilities in any patient presenting with ecthyma gangrenosum.
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