Purpura Fulminans and Group B Streptococcal Sepsis in an Extremely Low Birth Weight Premature Infant

Purpura fulminans (PF) is an ominous, rapidly progressive cutaneous manifestation of intravascular thrombosis and hemorrhagic infarctions typically mediated by coagulopathy or bacterial infection. Neonatal PF is a rarely reported but potentially disabling disorder associated with a high mortality rate and severe long-term morbidity in survivors. We report an extremely low birth weight premature infant with PF associated with late-onset Group B streptococcal sepsis. The infant survived but suffered a severe brain injury and autoamputation of all four extremities. We present this case and a review of the literature.