Extensive cutaneous anthrax in an immunocompetent patient.

Bacillus anthracis disease constitutes an extremely important worldwide epidemiological problem. Interest in cutaneous anthrax resides in its skin manifestations, course, diagnostic methods and management. An extensive cutaneous anthrax of the whole left upper arm, accompanied by lymphadenopathy and high fever, in a 60 year-old male patient, a shepherd by profession, is reported. He was treated effectively by intravenously administered ciprofloxacin and clindamycin. In the event of clinical suspicion of cutaneous anthrax, the patient has to be treated by the recommended regimen of antibiotics because of the possibility of evolvution to an extensive or severe systemic disease, even in the absence of immuno-depressant factors.